[Blood Diary Entry]
"Where should I begin…" I wondered aloud.
"From the beginning, I reckon." Rebekah teased me, and my eyelids twitched.
Then I explained to Rebekah roughly the same things I explained to my mother, including how I got into this world and how I was born. By the end of it, her eyes were wide open.
"How is any of this possible?" She asked in sheer disbelief.
"I honestly am unsure of the exact origins and reason behind that celestial phenomenon; part of me is scared to find the answers, really." I looked up towards the ceiling, my gaze deepened. "Any answer I come to is more convoluted than the previous one, and all have implications that I cannot deal with until I am fully mature and have access to all of my abilities."
At the mention of my abilities, Rebekah's eyebrow twitched furiously. "Honestly, with what you already have, I can honestly say there isn't anyone in this world that can contend against you… Even if my brother broke his curse, at best, I can say you two would only come to a stalemate. And here you are saying there is more to come and that you feel weak." She tapped her fingers against her arm. "You are infuriating, you know that?"
"Hah! I can't say many people have told me that, no." I smiled as my gaze focused back on her. "And when I say that, I am considering my previous incarnations as well. But that may have been because I was kind of a recluse in them, so there is that."
"And what's up with that, by the way?" She tilted her head. "You speak of previous incarnations and lives, and all that. But while you are far more mature than any kid I've ever met, you don't really behave like you are old. By the way, how old was the previous guy?"
"It's mostly because of the way he chose to preserve the memories. He has a certain ability—which I don't really have control over yet—that allows him to absorb and store memories, mainly from beings he consumed." At these words, Mom winced, and Rebekah just nodded matter-of-factly. "When he stored his own memories and those of his previous life as a human, it made them so that they were separate from the brain, and they still are; thus, they don't influence me. You can say I am a completely new person who inherited his powers and memories, that is the best comparison I can give you." Both nodded in understanding. "As for his age, he stopped counting after a certain time. I can only give a rough estimate based on the energy he accumulated and the development of his brother's spawn. Which should put him in the upper half of two billion years."
When they heard the ridiculous number, they both choked at the same time. Both gasped for breath and any semblance of reason.
"That is almost half the age of Earth… What the hell?!" Mother blinked furiously, as if trying to wake up from a bad dream. Rebekah opened and closed her mouth like a fish gasping for air, not really finding any words that were worth saying or that could describe her astonishment.
"Anyhow, it was from the human memories where I pulled the stuff you read in the notes."
Rebekah's pupils constricted into a dot.
"They had ghosts in that world?" Her breath was erratic, shallow.
"They do not, but they were a big thing in their culture, even if it was all fairy tales and horror stories; something must have had a hint of truth." I decided to refrain from telling them that this world was also part of said 'culture', as it would do them no good and might even send them into an existential crisis. The two seemed to notice I wasn't telling something, but decided not to ask, trusting I would tell them if it was important—Rebekah seemed kind of annoyed at that though. "And if you don't mind me asking, Rebekah, why do you seem so afraid of ghosts? Even if it tried, it wouldn't be able to kill you…"
Rebekah lowered her head; she bit her lips to the point they started bleeding. My eyes widened in alarm. I vanished from the couch and reappeared in front of her, pulling her head to my chest—tiny though it may be—enveloping her in a comforting hug. Mother took my lead and patted her back. Rebekah hugged me in turn, with as much strength as she could muster, knowing full well I wouldn't be permanently harmed no matter how hard she tried. She was fighting against herself, part of her wanted to tell me, retribute the honesty I had shown her, but the other part fought fiercely against it, like a cornered animal.
"You don't need to say anything… Take your time. When the time comes, you can tell me, and if it never does, it won't change anything." Her grip on me tightened as she dug her nails into my clothes. She probably thought I didn't mean it or that I was disappointed that she didn't return my honesty.
I chuckled and spoke again, "You remember the word from the vow, don't you?" She nodded against my chest. "So, for better or for worse, we are stuck together." I patted her hair, trying to calm her down. "You don't need to worry about whatever is going through that pretty little head of yours. I promise I'm not going anywhere."
She nodded again, and her breath calmed down. But her hands refused to let go of me.
Mother looked at me, then back to the blonde, worry for Rebekah's outburst and annoyance that a grown woman was clinging to her son filled her eyes.
I caught it all, even if she tried her best to mask it.
I patted Rebekah. "It's time to let go. We need to finish the talk."
She shook her head, and with a weak voice, she replied. "Please…"
I looked at my mother with a helpless look. She scowled and turned her head away, crossed her arms, and moved away.
I sat with Rebekah, but the moment I touched the couch, she just pulled me to her lap.
Even I was startled by it, Mother shot to her feet and was about to march to us. I raised my hand and shook my head.
"Fine, Rebekah, I won't complain about this, even if you almost wanted to rip my head off when I touched you yesterday, I won't speak about the double standards." Her ears turned tomato red, but she still didn't let go.
"Do as you wish then… But pay attention, this is important."