Timeless Bliss

So Real

"That was torture." I moaned, flinging myself down face-first onto Kyle's bed. Aaron had me training every day, before and after school. He would make me practice both my talents on the housekeeper, and sometimes that didn't go over so well. I'd accidentally flown her into a wall. It was all fixed with a little of Emma's healing, bu still. Even though it was the weekend, he'd decided to test me. At least I could fling fairly large objects with enough speed to chop somebody's head off. Pleasant, right?

"It'll get easier when your body grows into it." He reassured me, rubbing my arm. I groaned, and rolled over to face him. He was grinning, his dark eyes were laughing at me.

"Ugh. I'm so tired." I patted the bed next to me. "Come on. Time for bed." I grinned, yawning loudly.

"But, I'm nooooot." He whined, his pout was too adorable.

"Please?" I stuck my lower lip out. Staring at the ceiling, I pretended I was by myself.

"C'mon. You know I hate being ignored." Kyle sighed, dropping down beside me. Grinning, I rolled over to face him.

"Don't look at me like that." He grumbled, and I giggled, yawning again.

"Fine. I'll be here." He finally agreed, opting to let me sleep. I'd be cranky for Sunday if he didn't. Or I'd sleep all day. I tended to sleep more than I used to. Aaron said it was because of the change, and pretty soon I'd start sleeping about three or four hours less than I was used to. More down time, I guess. Or, if you looked at it from Aaron's perspective, more training time.

"I miss my parents." I mumbled absentmindedly. I missed the way she used to sing anytime she was in the kitchen. I would sit for hours on end, listening. Or the way my father absolutely had to have his breakfast at 7am or he couldn't eat. I had no idea why, and he refused to tell us.

"I know you do. But you have to remember, they don't remember you like they used to." Kyle sighed, taking my hand. I squeezed it to let him know I understood, and through my leg over his; a habit I'd developed since we had to share a bed. Not that I minded.

"I caught that." He chuckled.

I gasped. "Stop doing that! It's worse than mind-reading." Nope, he could read every single thought I'd ever had. It would take awhile, but he could if he really wanted to.

"Sorry." He apologized. "Your mind is fascinating."

I could feel myself blush. "How much do you know?" I asked meekly.

"A lot. You're usually asleep long before me, and I had nothing better to do."

"How old are you?" I frowned, my mind going completely off-topic.

"Oh, just over 200 years old." He replied nonchalantly.

"Eeeew. Perve." I giggled, as he traced circles on my back, light and slow.

"Pshaw." He answered, pressing his lips to my forehead. "Sleep."

I rolled my eyes, letting my head fall against his chest, so I could get some sleep. The sad part was, I knew he would be sifting through my thoughts. Personal space issues...

"Honey?" My mother called, coming in through my bedroom. Wait, how did I get in my bedroom?

"Mom?" I smiled, but it quickly dropped from my face. How did she remember me?

"Oh, sweetheart. We've missed you so much." She dropped a kiss on top of my head, and began flitting around my spotless room, rearranging things like she always did in the morning. Mostly just to make sure I woke up on time.

"I thought you forgot about me." My lower lip trembled, and I felt hot tears prick at my eyes. Had they lied to me?

"We'd never forget about you!" My mother scolded, pursing her glossy lips.

I leapt out of bed and scooped my mother in a hug. "I missed you some much." I whispered, sobbing into her shoulder. But she didn't smell the same. Familiar, but... Different, somehow.

"Mom?" I frowned, wiping my eyes with one hands as I pulled away.

"Yes?" She looked concerned. But then her image warped, became different. I stumbled backwards in horror.

"What's the matter?" The figure still had her voice. That may have been what scared me the most.

"Bliss?!" The voice became different too, deeper. "Bliss!"

I sat up gasping, Kyle hovering beside me. I took one look at him and burst into tears.

"It was her." I sobbed. "She said she missed me."

"I know." He soothed, rubbing my back slightly. "I caught pieces from the beginning in my sleep. It seemed okay, until you started mumbling and thrashing."

"I was so scared. She changed!" My voice was high with disbelief.

"It was just a dream." He reassured me, adding a stern look.

"But it felt so real." I whispered.

How could something that felt so real, be so, well, not real?