132 I Know Those Eyes
AUTHOR'S POV
Haelan grunted at her hard fall on the shallow groundwater. She rouse herself only to realize she broke her arm. Then, Haelan ran her eye over the underground chamber she fell into. Her eyes centered at the figure standing under the starlight coming from a large hole in the roof of the cave.
"Don't make things hard Agalea.", Gaius' low voice echoed inside. "I know you can hear me… even if you let that traveler take over your body", he said as he remained standing under the light. "Argus is calling. You have your duty to fulfill so stop running away", he remained unmoved beneath the starlight beaming through the cave hole.
Healing slowly, Haelan limply draw closer to Gaius until she was able to walk freely. "I am not running away anymore", Haelan answered. Memories of their time together as a family flashed in her mind, like a ghost haunting the soundness of her mind. Getting close enough, Haelan gasp at Gaius' barely recognizable transformation.
"Let's end this chase, then. It's about time", Gaius mumbled and grunted as if he was in pain.
"Don't you know who I am?", with a few more steps. Haelan sauntered towards Gaius with all the courage she can muster. This is the first time that she'll face her father without killing each other. Tired of the fights, Haelan thought of surrendering everything to Gaius and let his will be done.
"Is this a trick question?", Gaius panted even more as he growl softly. "We don't have time for games anymore", he said breathlessly.
"Don't you have any idea, who I really am?", Haelan stepped into the light showing her face. She stared at her father, showing her bright gray eyes she hoped he would recognize.
Gaius got a few tics as he gaze upon Haelan's face. He struggled to remember the stranger he only knew by her name. "I said no more games, Agalea!", he yelled.
"Try to remember!! Don't you remember me?", Haelan plead.
Gaius leaned forward, tilting his head to the sides and then… something struck him. "I…. I know those eyes", his dark eyes stared a little longer until something deep inside his memories emerged. "Oh…", Gaius dropped his jaw as his eye twitch.
Haelan replied with a smile. Her eyes glimmered with pooling tears. And no matter how hazy her vision became, it is still clear as the starry night sky that her love for her father didn't diminished, even a tiny bit… and it never will, despite what kind of monster Gaius have become.
"Oh.. Oh no.. sweetheart. You're here all along?", Gaius felt his knees trembled as he finally recognize who the celestial traveler Argus is after, and Agalea summoned in her body. "Forgive me.. I am so sorry, Helena", he held Haelan's face as he look fixedly in her eyes. "It is you", he softly said.
"How did you end up like this?", Haelan asked with tears streaming down her cheeks. She didn't wanted to cry at first, not to show herself being weak that might worry her father. However, seeing Gaius in a miserable state, she couldn't help but flood their reunion with tears.
She touched Gaius' cheek and felt the blazing warmth his blackened skin effuse. "Forgive me darling.. this is all my fault! I sold you and your mother to the devil. All because of my selfishness. This is all my fault! Urgh!!", Gaius squirmed in pain as he drop on his knees.
"We will make things right, Father", Haelan knelt on the flooded bedrock as she held Gaius' hand, trying to heal him.
"No, no, no Helena, it's too late for that", Gaius refused, panting heavily as if he's losing his breath. "Listen… no matter where you go, Argus will find Agalea and you. Stay… as far as you can. Find your crest and… soul travel away", he clarified.
"I can't! My crest lost its power", Helena admitted.
"Then…", Gaius tried to calm his senses. As he wet his black lips. "Go to Caluso, put.. put your crest on the.. on the leccy of light", he could hardly breathe as if he's being strangled.
"Alright, Alright", Helena hushed her father'e pains away. "What does he want with me and Agalea?", she asked.
"He wants Agalea, and you because…", Gaius clenched his fists as his entire skin go black as coal. "Agalea is the keeper of Iaso's stone. And you… you are the celestial healer Argus' desperately needs. You… you have to get away, as far as possible", Gaius breathed deeply in pain that he could hardly bear.
"Where am I gonna go, Father? I don't think I can still go farther", Helena said as she lose faith in herself. Gaius wiped Helena's tears and smiled.
"No, sweetheart! You can do it.. You are as strong as your mother… argh…", Gaius grunted as he drop on his knees. His fingers have grown long and crooked, and his body have completely turned to ash.
"I'll help you Father, I'll find a way", Haelan said.
"No Helena!!", he growled as he turn to his daughter and pushed her away. "I'm way too far gone now. And your, mother, they took her. ", he snarled as he supress the monster in him.
"She's alive?", Helena widened her eyes in disbelief. She surely saw her in the Forest of the Forgotten. "How can that be? I saw her in the Forest of the Forgotten. Where is she, father?", Helena approached her father yearning for answers.
"Yes… Argus took her soul and hid her away", Gaius said. "Quickly, bind me before I turn. We have no more time", Gaius implored as he feel every part of his body go numb, as if he's losing himself to the demon replacing his mind and body.
"Father…", Haelan found her chance for truth that her heart has been seeking. She gazed at her father's eyes to finally get the answer she's been looking for. "Are you my… are you my..", just she couldn't find the right words to say.
Gaius smiled and shook his head sideways at Helena. "But, you'll always be my little girl, Helena", he said softly. Helena was torn between a needle that was pulled out from her heavy heart, and a rock that added more burden to her already problematic life.
"Go, bind me now", Gaius commanded with a growl and a much lower voice.
Hurriedly, Helena called upon the vines from the crevice on the roof of the cave and bound Gaius in both of his arms. As the vines coil on Gaius, she could feel her powers deteriorate from overuse. Helplessly, Helena held her breath while she watch Gaius complete his transformation. She waited painstakingly, without looking away.
In no time, Gaius turned to a dark healer. No ounce of his previous appearance was left. A cloak exuding with a sooty flame enveloped his entire body as he float in the air loosening the vines snaking on its limbs. Helena took out her hilt and set off her remaining powers forming its blade. However, she couldn't struck it with her energy blade, with a thought that her father could still be in there.
Running out of perfect time, Atrius, who have followed her down, took the energy sword from her hands and decidingly split Gaius in half. As a favor, he did what Helena couldn't do. Torn and lost, Helena sat on the shallow water as she gape at the ashes that flew all over the cave. And then, Atrius locked Helena in his arms and uttered, "It's done now, Helena".