Nyxara
A young woman walked into the room wearing a lavender designer skirt suit with a white corset top and high heels. Her bright smile was enchanting, and a flirtatious but cloying scent flowed to encompass the room. Momma drew a glyph in the air, and the scent dissipated, making my sinuses sigh in thanks.
After the first young woman came three more young women who had eerily similar smiles on their faces. It's like seeing a filter over someone's face in real time. Their outfits looked like off-brand versions of the first young woman's purple suit. The sameness of all four females was very eerie. Everything about each one of them looked so artificially perfect that I can't help dubbing them the robo-barbie squad in my head.
It became quickly apparent though that the trio couldn't stay in perfect barbie mode in the presence of my attractive brothers. Their smiles became more real and brighter the moment they clocked Lux, Keir, and Aspen's presence. I watched amused as they flirted with my impassive-looking siblings. I wasn't even aware Aspen and Keir could be so cold and unfeeling-looking. They aren't even acknowledging the females' attempts. Just staring at them blankly while somehow keeping the females from getting into their personal space. I kept my gaze on these newcomers while completely ignoring her. I'm not ready to face the most dangerous person to me in this room. Too soon.
My ever-helpful mind tried to distract me with their antics, but even it couldn't dull the ache of a broken heart that hasn't had a chance to heal. I chuckle the moment the trio notices my parents are also present. All three promptly straighten their shoulders, lip-glossed lips shift into polite smiles, and clothes are adjusted into more presentable positions. They moved away from my brothers to position themselves behind Minette and turn their combined sad gazes upon me. And we are back to clone robo-barbie mode.
Well, the distraction was fun while it lasted. Looking down at my hands, I focus on my fingernails. I try to appear relaxed and not two seconds away from lunging out of this bed to wrap my hands around the young woman's throat. She was my heart sister. She was supposed to always have my back. Instead, she pulled my heart out through my back, stomped it into the ground, then licked the blood from her fingers. This Minette may not be the one I grew up with, but I have a feeling their souls are not that different.
With a pout and a narrowing of the eyes, her accusations began. How did I never see her actions for what they truly were? Nyxara…we were fools. "Ara, honey, why did I have to hear from someone else? You were in the hospital since yesterday? You are awake. You should have called me or texted me so I didn't have to come all the way here. This isn't cool, Ara. Not cool at all. Besties are supposed to keep in touch no matter what. Hospitalization or not." She tries to come closer to the bed, but my family held firm, forming a silent, unmoving barrier that keeps her politely—yet unmistakably—away from me. "Mother and Koba were asking me why I didn't know you were in the hospital since yesterday night. You are making me look bad, honey."
As much as I'd love to pretend I don't know her, I doubt I can keep the act up for a long period of time. My lacking ability, however, won't stop me from messing with her and gathering information. With an obviously fake questioning expression, I turn to Lux and I ask him, "Who is she? Is she really my best friend?" Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that Minette's smile faltered. Her unexpected lavender eyes turned cold before they warmed back up and her smile snapped back to its previous brightness. My instincts were right that I need to be wary of this smiling face.
Lux's eyes widened for a brief second before going impassive again. With a curious tilt of his head, he responds with a hint of suspicion in his tone. " Minette Dillard," Lux watches me like a predator looking for any signs that I'm prey. "Twenty-one, same as you. Your so-called best friend since age ten. Also—she's Koba's younger sister. Koba, age twenty-three, who has been your fiancé since you turned 18." His voice trailed off when I closed my eyes in an attempt to keep my heart and breathing calm.
My heart would not calm down.
My breath did not want to move.
My stomach wanted to purge itself immediately.
He is a poison, I had hoped to leave behind on Earth.
There was a tense silence while I just absorbed Lux's words. I traveled as far as I could, and it wasn't enough. They are like cockroaches that just won't go away. One was her best friend, and the other her fiancé. It's hard to keep my past and her present separate. For all I know, I'm seeing everything through colored lenses, and they aren't like the ones from my past. The white noise in my ears and the feeling in my gut tell me I'm not wrong, and this time I'm going to listen, even if I'm destroying something good.
The thump-thump of my heart calms as I settle into this choice. I can breathe again. My stomach settles. My nerves are still frazzled. I may not have her memories, but I do have this body, which is screaming they are not to be trusted. I will protect myself by not making the same mistake twice—keeping poison close because I'm scared of being alone. This is my second chance, and it will be everything I ever dreamed of, or I'll start researching how to file an extra-dimensional grievance.
Letting one last big sigh out, I open my eyes to see that Minette and the trio are all staring at me with perplexed expressions. "Whatever your reasons for coming here, I thank you for coming to check on me. Now that you have seen me, you can all leave. From this moment forward, you can consider us very distant acquaintances. I hope we will not see each other often." I gave them each a nod of the head and a pleasant smile. "Oh, and this goes for your brother as well. I do not wish to be associated with him either." Now everyone was looking at me like they were trying to decipher what I was saying.
Ignoring the looks, I kept my tone of voice clear and resolute. I did not want there to be any doubt about my intentions. Looking at things from a positive perspective, it is a good thing this parasite showed up, so that I would not be caught unaware of their presence in my life at a later time. Now, if there is anybody listening as you did in those woods, let my parents not be against me breaking off this betrothal.
"Momma, Papa, I hope you will support me in breaking off the betrothal. I don't have any desire to marry someone I don't know. Also, my instincts are telling me it would be best to keep my distance from this Koba person. This is a fresh start for me, and I don't want to keep anyone," I look at Minette before turning back to my parents, "that I don't feel is a positive influence in my life. So, if you could help me with settling this matter, I would be grateful."
If I thought my family was giving me strange looks before, I was wrong. Their reactions varied, but what did not was the stillness of them for a moment before Keir broke it by sprawling across the foot of my bed, dragging his hand down his jaw, watching me with a mix of concern and amusement. Lux's brows rose slightly, while his eyes narrowed in disbelief. He was standing now next to my bed with his arms crossed. Aspen's eyes were wide, jaw slightly open, and his head tilted to the side as he muttered incomprehensibly. My parents did not break their stillness. I had their full focus, and it felt almost intrusive; it feels like they were looking into my soul for answers.
It was not my parents who responded to my words. No, it was Minette's crackling voice that spoke into the contemplative silence. "Why are you acting like this, Ara? Is this some kind of joke acting like you don't know me? And why are you talking about breaking off your engagement to Koba? You don't know him?" Minette almost sneered with her hands on her hips.
"Sweetheart, you know I love you—but this little stunt isn't cute. You'll just make Koba think you're unstable, and we both know how much he hates drama. He likes you best when you are sweet, understanding, and supportive. When I get home, I'll make sure to tell him to schedule coming to see you soon, whether it is here or at your parents' place." She gives me a condescending and pitying look as she throws me this bone. "So, don't bring up breaking anything off with me or Koba again."
Looking at her, I can't help being amazed at how much she is like the Minette of my past. Now with a broken heart and clear eyes, I see her for the gaslighting bitch she is. Under my cool gaze, her hands twitch and rise, reaching out as if she needs to touch me. She even subtly tries to charm her way around my family. Her behavior causes a horrifying thought to form.
My body sweats with the possible implications. Was she somehow drugging Nyx? Had she somehow conditioned her to respond to her touch in certain ways? I have a very active imagination, so I could be wrong, but my instincts are once again pinging that I might be onto something. I will have to have Aspen look into it if they can scan for such manipulation. With magic and nano-tech, I would suspect it should be possible.
I broke out of my worrying thoughts when I saw her open her mouth to continue speaking, so I spoke first. "Enough. You heard what I said, and I meant what I said. Let me be crystal clear: I am not the Nyxara you knew and she will not be coming back. Hear me when I say I will not associate with either of you beyond what is necessary. Don't be dramatic and make this more complicated." I held up my hand when she tried once again to speak.
"I will discuss the betrothal situation with my family. Please notify your brother and parents to expect to hear from us soon. All explanations and reasons will be given at that time. Now I need to rest, so please see your way out and take your friends with you." I made sure that my tone was firm, even as I hid my shaking hands under the covers and a strange lightness filled my chest.