Pleiades Saints

Chapter Eight: Set Me Free

Chapter Eight: Set Me Free

I floated between the void of half-sleep, the images of a million years of history flashing through my brain at light-speed. Ramiel's words echoed in my mind, repeating themselves to me, whisking me away through the origins of humans and Nephilim, a violent past carrying ages of bloody war, disease, famine, torture, misery, and near-extinction. What Emilia told me before...she'd been right all along. Us and the Nephilim were one and the same, born of the same extraterrestrial blood of the Angels.

The Angels presented themselves before me as brilliant winged humanoids of immense size, far bigger than any Nephilim. They were stoic and silent, clad in shining armor and religious robes, as well as golden halo-like rings of light that hovered above their heads. Their faces were concealed by ivory masks that resembled plague masks. Any place they landed was bathed in a flood of holy bluish-white light, bringing a slight fragrance to the air, like mild perfume or fresh flowers. They beckoned me, seeming to urge me to join them, but before I could make a decision, a small, yet familiar voice dragged me up from the dark depths of sleep. "Shizuka...hey, wake up..."

I peeled open my eyes and was greeted by Kanato's pale, delicate face, framed by wisps of purple hair. I was back at the airport, in bed, while Kanato snuggled up next to me. "K-Kanato...what happened...?" I moaned.

He smiled. "At last, you answered me. You passed out after Ramiel brought us into the dreamscape. Despite me calling out to you, you didn't wake up, and I was worried...so I decided to stay here with you until you did."

I yawned, still unsure of what had just happened. "Sorry...I guess I fall asleep easily...but what Ramiel showed us...do you think any of it was real?"

Kanato's sapphire eyes flashed. "Of course it was real. Ramiel showed us his memories, not just everything he had seen, but everything he had learned and been told by others throughout his life. If human beings and Nephilim were created by the Angels, and the Nephilim created the Lilin from their own genes...that means I carry the blood of the Angels too, right?"

I nodded slowly. "If what Ramiel said is true...then yes. All of us...all humans, Nephilim, and Lilin...we can all trace our ancestry back to the Angels. Now I see...the Nephilim and the Lilin are no more alien to this planet than humans. What they all said...they were wrong. The Nephilim destroyed our world to prove themselves worthy...but the truth is that we're all God's children. I realize that...but it's too late now..."

Kanato stroked my hair, meeting me with a gentle smile. "Please, don't be sad. While you were sleeping, I waited all alone. I don't sleep much...when I do get to sleep, I only have nightmares...but when you're next to me, the bad dreams go away. So, please...can we sleep together?"

I drew closer and wrapped my arms around him. "Of course we can. I don't want to be apart from you...we can stay here as long as you want."

Kanato's lips quivered. "Shizuka...do you love me?"

My mind paused for a short moment. But really, there was no point in mulling it over. I knew what my answer would be. "To tell you the truth, I've never really had anyone in my life. I had my family, I had friends...but I never had anyone I was actually close to. I always felt isolated...there was no one in my life I could truly be myself around. And now that all this has happened, I've found that there's only been one person who's been there with me through it all from the very beginning. Through all the times I fought, escaped, got hurt, and cried...you've always been there. So yes...I do love you."

Kanato's face bloomed into a bright smile. He looked as though he were about to burst into tears. "Thank you...this is the first time anyone's said that to me...it's the first time I've ever been treated like a real person...the Nephilim are liars. Humans aren't so bad after all. I love you too...Shizuka..."