The Golden Child

~Elias~

I looked down, staring at Syren. How could one with so much presence look so frail? It scared me to see her like that.

"Syren... I whispered. Her name was beautiful. I loved it. But did I love her? I tried to convince myself that I was saying things to a dying girl, that I didn't truly love her.

"Stay away from her. She shall have no husband." My father.

"I.. I.." I began.

"Don't try to dissuade me. I can see it. She loves you too." Though this made me feel good, I wondered what his motive was.

"What do you want?" I said, my voice filled with venom.

"I want you to stay away from her. Date that princess from Parilo for a while. Syren is not for you."

"Who is she for, then?"

He smiled mysteriously. "You'll see." He walked away, and I was left to fidget and look at Syren.

And then she gasped. "No! I won't go with you! Don't go with him! No!" She sobbed quietly, then fell silent.

I rushed to her side, only to find she was still asleep. She had been crying out about her dream. It wasn't really a dream, but a nightmare, I realized when she started thrashing.

"Let me free!" She screamed. "Don't take me! I cant! I can't! Help me please! Oh, but you can't, you are all dead, oh what have I done? I killed you all." Her screams became sobs, and she balled her hands into fists, only to turn them into claws and tear her invisible bindings.

"Syren," I cried, grabbing her hand. "Please come back to me. Please."

She stiffened, then whispered uncertainly, "Elias? Elias! Save me! But you don't know me yet, no, it will be years. Will I have to relive this all? I hope not. I hope not."

It broke my heart, watching her this way. At the same time, I couldn't leave. What if she woke up?

But she didn't. I waited and waited, until at last, she blearily opened her eyes and cried, "Elias? Elias where are you? I'm sorry, so sorry... what have I done?"

"Syren!" I shouted. "You're alive, oh I thought you might die, oh Syren, thank the gods."

"I'm alive, yes, thank the gods, but Elias, do you really love me?"

I winced. I wanted to say yes, but my father told me to say no. "No, Syren. Those are words you say to a dying girl. I wanted you to end your life in peace."

"Oh," she whispered. She wilted. "I don't really love you either, that's just what you say when someone says they love you, right?"

"Right," I said. I felt awful. So awful. I wish I could say yes, but I couldn't. I couldn't risk my father's wrath. I couldn't put Syren and I in the line of fire.

"Goodbye, Elias," Syren said forcefully.

I left feeling miserable, and just wishing I could go back to the way things were.

Before Syren. Before explosions. Before love.

With a heavy heart, I left the medical hospital.