Hera : Love or loyalty?

Here comes Althaea

Chapter 1:

'Destroy your old nightmares by constructing sweet dreams.'  

MICHAEL'S POV

"Oh! you came. It's time. Come on, come on!", I was welcomed with a beautiful smile on my girlfriend, Emily's, face.

"What? No 'miss you Mike', 'love you Mike?'" I fake exclaimed holding her hand in left hand and in other, a bouquet of flowers.

"I don't have time for this. I have to go", she tried escaping from my grasp.

"Fine, fine. Just tell me where she is?" I asked leaving her hand.

"Go inside and see for yourself. She must be coming now", She half walked, half ran answering.

"Good morning!" a voice I am searching for, came from the top of the stairs. It brought a smile to my face automatically.

"Good morning, my lovely sister!" I met her halfway and engulfed her in a half hug since she was carrying a tray on her hand and me a bouquet of flowers.

"Did you see Emily?", she asked as we descended the steps.

"Yeah, just now. Where is he?" I asked .

"When has he ever come to this thing willingly? I have to drag him out. I am very sure he must be in the game-room. He likes to make me talk". She scolded him fondly giving the tray of flowers to me.

"Take this. I will bring him", she said and started towards the game-room.

If I say I am not jealous of my younger brother, that would be a lie. She became talkative and animated whenever she talked about him. Otherwise, getting her to talk more than a sentence, was a big deal. My jealousy was justified because, after all, I was her twin brother.

I carried the tray to where most of them was gathered and handed it and the bouquet over to Sarah, my sister's friend and neighbor. They all live on the apartments of the same building and my sister owned half of the first floor. To say it was an apartment would be a mistake since the building was in round shape and they have huge open space in the centre. It looked like a palace from outside. Those condos have high security so only few people from outside could here.

Sarah told me that Emily went to bring Scarlet and rejoined the others.

Scarlet, our princess!

My sister was absolutely brilliant to have chosen such a beautiful name for my daughter. Scarlet came rushing towards me with Emily behind her. I lifted her up in the air and kissed her on the cheeks making her laugh.

"Where is Althaea?", Emily asked me. Just when I was going to answer, my sister entered with Damon on her trail.

"Here she is, with the devil", I answered pointing at my sister's direction.

"Hi bro, Good to see you too" he said with a wave of his hand.

"Hello dude" I waved back. He came and stood beside me.

They all started the gathering. Emily took Althaea by her hand and Althaea took Scarlet. Even though, my brother's disinterest was clearly shown on his face, he didn't complain. Well, he would stand on nail bed if my sister asked. I didn't know what to call that gathering, a homecoming day, anniversary, thanksgiving or a memorial, so, I preferred the term 'gathering to commemorate their memories'. They all prayed and said thanks to those who saved them. They didn't pray to any God in particular. They thanked the entire universe on that date every year from that particular day. A day, so horrible, which should have never come in my sister's life. A day, where I should have been there with her.

After 20 minutes of all thanks and absolute silence my sister gave cake to me and Damon.

"Why are you standing like that?" she asked him.

"What so special about today?" he questioned and she sighed. "I will start celebrating the day when you forget this day exists" he continued in a rough voice.

"We must be grateful that we are here" she told him.

"Well, I am always grateful to the person who made our lives possible. So, my wonderful sister, thank you" he said taking the cake and left the place. He didn't talk much usually, but when he does, his words were sharp.

She shook her head left to right muttering how moody he was and offered to prepare me breakfast but I was in no mood to eat. She understood that I was reminiscing the past. So, she took me to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee.

"We may be twins, but..... you can't take every lessons and tests, with me. I don't want you to do that. I want you to have an easy one so that you can help me prepare for mine" She said sipping her tea after few minutes of silence.

I searched her eyes to find a little bit of something that tells I was guilty but I found none. It was not that easy to read her anyway. She was always good at masking her emotions.

"It's true, I can't take your tests", I agreed with a sigh.

"Also, you didn't ditch me. If anything, I was the one who sent you away. Understand that, some times, things happen. through no fault of anyone. It just happens. I made choices all the way knowing the consequences. It is not your fault. Just be grateful that we are together now, at this point. Let the past be gone", she advised and it made sense.

There was no use in talking about that again and again. I could look after her and that was what it mattered.

"But, please, let me help you if you anyone bothers you, ok?" I pleaded her.

"Bothering me?! Do I look like someone who let 'others bother me'?" she stressed the words lifting her eyebrows.

"Sissy, I am not coming to office with you" said Damon entering the kitchen at the same time.

"Except him" she nodded her towards him.

"What?" he wanted to know.

"Nothing, you come with me to office or you are cooking from tomorrow" she said while finishing her tea.

"Help me, bro" he pleaded me with cow's eyes.

I couldn't stop my smile but couldn't help him either. "Leave me out of this. I don't want to involve", I said wanting to get out of there.

"What shirt do I have to wear for office, Sissy?" he agreed with a question instantly.

I can't help but laugh at their exchange.

"Big bro, laugh all you want. It's until you get married. I will be the laughing one then on", he cursed me.

I laughed out loud. I can't help but be grateful that all of us here and laughing. I feel like my wounds are healed.

She is named right. Althaea, a healer.