Divided Legacies

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

How could they call me a Lun when all I ever think about is work, work, work?!
I've been training Rhod for two hours straight every single night before heading to the some more errands.
And now that I'm back, nobody even sees my work? My sacrifice. My efforts.
Whatever.
There will come a time that they will all thank me for doing this.
All I need right now is a good night sleep.
I can't wait to dive into my soft bed.
Until I was reminded of somethin'...
Uncle and I shared a room. Once again.
*sigh*
Actually, I don't really mind because the room is vast for even 5 people to fit in, but why does Brianna get to have her own room without a single roomate while everybody else gets to share with 2 or more people?
Yeah I remember, it was Uncle's request while she was still mourning for Amethyst. She talked to no one but Uncle that first week until I finished the system for distributing the work trainning loads, and she was assigned a class. I understand back then, but now that more stupid halfbloods are going back from being out in their own world, it's about time to petition her privacy.
Or not.
Whatever.
Uncle Johann isn't a bad roommate actually, but he can be snarky sometimes like someone who's been suffering with her monthly menstration. He hates it when I touch his things like his katana, or the sling bag he was keeping inside his drawer (I don't know why but I have this habit of scavenging through someone else's bag...Like an itch that you can't resist). And did I mention how loud he could snore?
Man, was it loud! And scary---like he's running short of breath whenever he sleeps. Funny how a person could be so different when he's concious and when he's not, because as silent and graceful as he was awake, he's just as loud and obnoxious as he was asleep.
My steps clicked at the dimly lit hallway. It was long past the lights out and the late night Original's meeting. I checked the clock hanging on a cement beam ahead of me to find that it's already 3:12am.
Yeah, it's about time to retire after doing some errands.
When I was about to turn the last corner towards my room, I caught a glimpse of moving shadows by the wall to my right.
At first, I thought I was just imagining things or maybe it's a malfunctioning emergency light, but when I heard steps, I knew I was up to something unusual.
The first thought the came to me was:
Mogadorians.
Have they finally found us?
No. I have to be sure. I don't want to repeat what I did, hours ago. I have to investigate first before presuming anything.
So, as much as I didn't want to use my most hated Legacy for the nth time this day, I had to.
I conjured a small moth to my side, and stirred the colors of my shirt and the metal wall to my right, blended them so that my whole body adapted the hues of the wall. The trick is simple. I can conjure things by bending visible colors into something else, like doing a complicated animated painting. I don't know how I was able to do it. I just can. The moth was the distraction. So that even though I was practically invisible, they---or whatever is out there won't turn my way. It was a precaution.
The shadows were tall against the wall, and I can also make out some whispers now and then as I made my way towards the intruders. Words that are foreign to me.
I turned the final corner and saw them.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

My ears rang as a series of urgent knocks whacked my door. And in an instant, my hands fumbled on the handle and pulled. But the door opened not from my effort, but from the push of a man I never expected to be standing right at my doorsteps.
I was stunned, unable to move as he dashed inside my room with an expression of concern---sweat beading on his forehead shows his anger.
This can't be possible!
How could he be in this place?
What---
I was back to reality as the door slammed closed and as the man spoke, "What are you doing?!" He demanded pacing the perimeters of my room as if the action strains him from bursting.
"I---" there was a large lump in my throat and I couldn't get myself to continue my sentence.
"You aren't supposed to be here!!"
I had never heard him scream to me like that. Mang Tony never screamed at me, not even in training. My Mom would.
Then, finally, I felt my voicebox working, "I-I thought you'd want me t-to do this?"
He's got to be pertaining to my mentoring, right?
"No! This isn't about what you need to do!" He slammed his hands on the nearby table. "This is about you being my son! You are subject to me!"
I jumped. His son---I've always wanted to have a father. Someone who I'd look up to. Someone I'd idolize. And if there's someone close to all these, it would be him. "What would you rather have me do---" and just like that, the noun I so wanted to address him but never got the chance to call him, came out, "---D-dad..."
At that, his anger seemed to fade. Replaced by a wide grin. I was relieved that he liked what I'd called him. But that grin was not the type of grin that puts sunshine on your cheeks. It was something else.
Something---
Something malicious.
"Father---yes---" he said snidely. "You are mine. I am your father."
Then I felt my feet abandon the ground beneath me. An invissible force slammed me against the wall---my head hitting the stone wall hard. I felt a little dazed as red warm liquid traveled down my neck.
Then I felt my lungs tightening, something was suppressing my system of air
My heart pounded against my chest fast---but I couldn't feel any power inn'it. I couldn't reach for my Legacies. They weren't there.
And for the first time in my 3rd life, I felt helpless.
"It's been a long time, Yo." Mang Tony said, his grin wide and taunting.
My eyes widen as the person I used to know transformed into something else.
Someone else.
His eyes became red. Small black pupils dotted them. His skin blackened and his shirt was engulfed with flames.
This is not Mang Tony.
This is someone else.
Someone horned.