NINETEEN: Sephora

The bright light seeping through my curtains disturbed my slumber as I awoke rather late. I woke to the sound of fast, heavy breathing and wondered from whence it came until I realised it was emanating from my own mouth. The events of last night still had me shaken.

"Calm down, slow your breathing," I instructed myself, attempting to steady my nerves. I placed my hand upon my chest, feeling my abnormal heartbeat. "It was just a dream, merely a dream," I repeated until my heart settled.

I sat on the edge of my bed and surveyed my room. Observing some grass upon my bed, I realised I had been so disturbed last night that I hadn't bothered changing into my nightgown. My current garments were itchy, and I needed a bath.

As I bathed, the warmth enveloped me, blending with the scent of lavender oil mixed with neroli, putting my body into a state of relaxation. It was exactly what I required to temporarily rid myself of the anxiety lingering from last night. Now I could think clearly.

"What exactly was that creature? Was it real? Was it merely a dream?" I queried myself as I dried off and changed into fresh clothes. "It felt like a dream, yet it seemed so vivid. And why did it resemble Cirdan? Was it a premonition?" All these questions remained unanswered. I took one last glance at myself in the mirror before heading to Aiyana's chambers.

I walked through the hallways, endeavouring to locate her room. I had not yet committed the building's layout to memory. "Where is Dori when you need her?" I muttered, having not seen her all morning. I reached a junction in the halls and turned right. Suddenly, I was struck by a sense of déjà vu. There it was—the creature—standing there vividly. I was overcome with one emotion: fear.

I immediately turned left and walked away as swiftly as I could without drawing attention. I tried to get another glance, but there was nothing there. I tried to compose myself. "I must be hallucinating," I told myself, yet I knew all too well that it was a lie. It felt as real as the ground beneath my feet. I needn't be told: "Avoid that place at all costs." I gathered myself and continued my search for Aiyana's room.

I finally retraced my steps to Aiyana's room and desperately wanted to recount the events of the previous night to her. However, as I was unsure of their reality, I decided to keep my lips sealed. "Some things are better left unsaid," I thought, ridding myself of the scowl on my face and forcing a smile. "Princess, a lovely morning, isn't it?"

"Oh? You seem to have had a peaceful sleep," she remarked.

I smiled, though this couldn't be further from the truth. "Indeed, peaceful. You visited Igor's library yesterday. How was it?" I quickly changed the topic, not wishing to revisit the subject of sleep.

"Oh, Igor's library! He spoke no falsehoods regarding it," she replied enthusiastically.

"You mean to tell me that it truly holds every literary work ever written?" I asked, sceptical of Ighor's grand claims.

"Yes, it truly holds everything. I also discovered some truths about the realms and the different creatures!" She was clearly excited, always enthusiastic about books.

"Well, indulge me," I said, now curious. She continued for a little over thirty minutes, expounding on how life and death are polar opposites, how humans came first and are weak to death's devices. She proceeded to enumerate the different types of beings in the world and the realms they inhabit.

My attention peaked when she spoke of so-called "Demons," children of death, and their affinity for chaos. She described them, and it closely resembled the being I encountered last night. "Goodness," I replied, taken aback. "That is quite a lot of information to absorb."

Aiyana smiled. "That's what makes it so fascinating," she replied. Now I knew what it was, at least on a basic level, yet there were still unanswered questions.

"Can these demons assume the appearance of a human?" I asked. I needed to know, as the creature I encountered bore the same aura as Cirdan. I needed to understand why that was.

Aiyana shook her head. "From the texts I read, there was no mention of demons taking on the appearance of humans, though there exist several demon-human hybrids. Why do you ask? Don't tell me..." She paused.

"Tell you what?" I asked, attempting to keep my tone casual. Had she surmised the truth?

"Are you frightened?" she asked teasingly.

"What is there to fear?" I said, laughing. It was the first time I had genuinely laughed all day.

Aiyana tilted her head slightly, her eyes narrowing in curiosity. "You say there's nothing to fear, but your laughter is a bit too eager," she said, a hint of concern in her voice.

I composed myself, offering a more measured smile. "It's just been a long night, that's all," I replied. "Tell me more about these demon-human hybrids."

She raised an eyebrow but obliged. "These hybrids are rare, born of both human and demon parentage. They often possess abilities from both lineages, though they are shunned by both humans and demons alike. They live in the fringes of society, neither fully accepted nor fully rejected."

I pondered this. Could the creature I saw be one of these hybrids? And if so, why did it take on Cirdan's form? "Fascinating," I murmured. "And these hybrids—are they capable of disguise?"

Aiyana nodded slowly. "Yes, they are half humans so they can manipulate their appearance to some extent, but it requires great skill and energy. Only the most powerful among them can maintain such disguises for long periods. Why do you ask?" Her gaze was penetrating now, seeking answers in my guarded expression.

I hesitated. Should I confide in her? The need to share my burden battled with my instinct for secrecy. "I encountered something last night," I began cautiously, "something that looked like Cirdan, but... different."