Chapter 4

Patricia's POV

"Well, you sure are famished." Lucas chuckled as he put more plates full of food on the table. The boy's eyes immediately lit up at the mere sight of foods that he hadn't eaten before.

We are currently gathered in the Lunar Eclipse's private kitchen. Axel keeps on shoving food down his throat like it was his last day to be able to eat. Samantha sat beside him sipping her coffee silently. James is leaning on the wall while watching the scene in front of him silently. Lucas, the only person in our group who knows how to cook besides Captain, is over the kitchen counter making more foods. For the young boy.

"So, Axel. Since you two have been in that lab for years, what did you do most of the time that you aren't called?" I popped my chin on my hand as I looked at Axel who's still eating quite fast.

He chewed the food on his mouth until it was gone, then wiped his lips with the napkin. It's surprising that someone who's been isolated for years knows proper table manners. Where did they teach?

"I mostly stayed in my room reading books. Aurelia's always in the lab being tested on so I had nothing to do. There are times where we barely see each other, when they're finished with her I couldn't go to her room because the nurses were strict on keeping us apart. I read a lot of books so that I could tell them to Aurelia, but she's always too exhausted to listen to my stories. So I'll just read her books until she falls asleep."

"Did they teach you how to read?"

She shook his head, "No, we weren't taught or anything. We'd always be locked up in our respective rooms until they tested us again."

Samantha cocked her head to the side, "How did you learn to read then?"

"It's a part of their experiments. They would put knowledge into our minds, basic things that people should know about."

Samantha looked shocked at the news, "They were put into your minds? That means your knowledge on how to read and proper manners are caused by them?"

He nodded cheerily, "Yup!" Once again he returned to eating his food.

"This is really good, Sir Lucas! I've never eaten something like this before."

Lucas paused for a minute, "What do you mean? Where have you not given proper food?"

"Only canned foods."

All of us shared a look, once again feeling the anger towards those sick bastards. Not only did they take their life away, isolate them from the world, use their bodies, they also messed up their minds, and weren't even given proper foods!

"Oh! Aurelia! I'm so glad you're okay!" Axel's sudden words jolt me out of my thoughts. We looked towards the stairs where he ran off. Aurelia's walking down the stairs, her gaze down, her movements in motion like a hollow puppet. Behind her Zavian stood, he was probably trailing after her.

Axel reached his sister half way through the stairs, his skinny arms wrapping themselves at his sister who looked shocked with the action for a moment. She looked down at her brother with that same clouded look on her eyes, "Aurelia, I'm so sorry."

"Axel..." The mist on her eyes seemed to go away as her mind processed that it was her brother in front of her. Tears swelled up in her eyes, not wasting a second any further, she clutched Axel to her chest.

Axel pulled away a moment later with a grin on his face, "How are you Aurelia? I'm so happy that you're safe now. Thanks to the Lunar Eclipse for saving us, we won't have to suffer anymore!"

"Lunar Eclipse...?" She removed her eyes away from her brother and scanned the room. That's when she noticed the four of us looking at their exchange of words.

When she saw us, the clouded look in her eyes returned. Axel was right, there's something wrong with his sister. Aurelia's eyes look dead without any warmth or sparkle of life in it.

"Come, Aurelia! They have so many foods that we've never eaten before! I don't think I can taste all of it just by one day." Axel cheerily pulled her sister down the stairs, Zavian following after them silently.

They came into a stop in front of us, "Everyone, this is my sister, Aurelia." Axel introduced with a grin on his face, "Aurelia, they're the one that saved us! I'll introduce you."

"This is Miss Patricia," I waved my fingers at her when she looked at me, recognition falling on her eyes. She must've remembered me from the time when I had made her fall unconscious.

"That over there, is Miss Samantha." Samantha silently brought her mug of coffee to her lips once again.

"Sir James," Axel motioned to James who's leaning on the wall. "Yo!"

"And that's Sir Lucas, he makes delicious foods!" Lucas smiled from his place at the kitchen.

"It's a pleasure to be your... acquaintance." Aurelia spoke in such a low and smooth voice. I couldn't help but shiver at the cold edge of her voice.

She really is different.

"Captain, do you want anything?" Lucas asked, only noticing Zavian just now.

He shook his head and spoke in that cool manner that he's the only one who can manage to do, "No, I'm good."

"Hello, sir." Axel stepped in front of him, his grin still present on his face. "I heard that you're Captain Zavian of the Lunar Eclipse. I'm truly grateful to all of you for saving us. If it weren't for any of you..." His voice went lower, "My sister would've continued to suffer."

Zavian ruffled Axel's hair. "Don't mind it."

Axel grinned at him, the sullen look on his face now gone. He turned towards his sister, "You should try the food Aurelia, it's really good!" Aurelia let herself be pushed down on the chair by her brother.

Pushing a plate full of food towards his sister he waited patiently for her to try the foods Lucas made.

Aurelia looked down at the food in front of her, her expression blank all the while. Axel frowned when he realized his sister wouldn't start moving any time soon.

"Aurelia, you don't have to worry. The food isn't drugged. See?" He emphasizes his point by taking one of the strawberries on the plate.

Aurelia seemed to snap out of it when her brother put the food in his mouth, she looked like she wanted to stop him, clearly in doubt with the foods.

Axel's eyes widened as he chewed the food, making Aurelia more tense and worried with his reaction. Before Aurelia can open her mouth, Axel was already purring in delight, "What is this? It's so good!"

His reaction made some of us chuckle, "Axel, that's a fruit called strawberry." Samantha supplied for him.

"Really? So this is what strawberries taste like. I've only read about them in books. Here, Aurelia try one." He gently took her hand, putting a strawberry on it.

With a look of uncertainty, Aurelia brought the fruit into her mouth and took a bite. Everyone waited for her reaction with the food but her face remained stoned and expressionless.

"It's... sweet." Her voice remained small and cold, almost robotic without any emotions.

Axel's shoulder slumped, clearly wanting to get a reaction from his sister. Now I understand what he meant about his sister looking so... Dead. She's like an empty vessel of her former self. Void of any emotion with that same cold look in her midnight eyes.

Although he's clearly upset about his sister's lack of light, he forced a smile on his face. "I know right? Here, eat more." He pushed another set of plates towards Aurelia.

He sat back at his chair, watching Aurelia silently and cautiously eat her food. An awkward silent falling over us. Luckily, Samantha spoke up.

She cleared her throat, "If you don't mind me asking, what did you mean about the drugged food?"

Aurelia immediately stilled in her chair, her bangs falling over her eyes, hiding her expression.

"T-The doctors would give us candies, drugged candies that make us feel weak, feeling faint, or pass out. Some of it makes us lose control with our bodies for a certain amount of time, and some of it paralyzes our bodies." Axel responded uncertain if he should speak about this while his sister's in the room.

Samantha nodded to herself as she processed his words, sipping her coffee once again.

"So Captain, what are your plans?" James looked at Zavian who's looking outside the window, listening to the conversation the whole time on the quiet corner.

"It's not for me to decide really." He said with a shrug as he looked towards us, "The choice is for the both of you to make." He looked pointedly at Aurelia who's already looking at him.

"What choice?" Axel cocked his head to the side.

"The Council took full responsibilities of what happened to the both of you, so in exchange they gave the both of you full scholarship at Viradale Academy. It's an elite school where people like us, Enchanted goes to study. Viradale helps Enchanted to learn more about their Elements and how to use them properly." I filled in for him.

His eyes lit up, "An Elite school? I read about them in my books! It's the most extravagant school out there isn't it? I'd like to study under a school before."

"You can, Axel. The Council gave both of you scholarships. You two can stay at Viradale for as long as you like, and you don't have to worry about anything since it's a boarding school. Viradale also provides each and every student's needs. If you're worrying about money, Viradale gives missions to students, and if you complete that mission you'll get paid in exchange. And that's not all, the missions are hella fun too! Not only do you get money, you'll also have a lot of fun." James said with a cheeky grin.

"Really? That sounds amazing! What do you think, Aurelia? Can we stay? We have nowhere to go anyway." Axel looked at his sister hopefully.

Aurelia had her eyes down cast, "I'll agree to whatever you want... As long as I can stay beside you."

She meets her brother's gaze, who's looking at her with full of happiness and a smile on his face. My heart melted at the scene, indeed it's true that the only important person for Aurelia's life is her brother. If the glimmer of light in her dead eyes wasn't any sign of it, then I don't know what else.

"Now, that's settled. We'll arrange your enrollment at once. Tomorrow, we'll show both of you around Viradale so that you two can be familiar in your new home." Zavian commanded with authority, the one he usually used on us. "All of you are dismissed." That was his final words before walking off.

James shrugged and followed after him, leaving the kitchen at once.

"I'll just clean this place up." I glanced at Lucas who's already starting to tidy up the kitchen.

Samantha pushed herself out of her chair, "I'll help you."

I looked at Aurelia and Axel with a smile on my face, "I'll accompany you to your rooms."

Axel nodded before walking off, Aurelia trailed after him as if in a trance. Her movements were small and collected. If there's one thing to describe her the words would be a hollow puppet.

I went with them up the stairs, making sure that both siblings were in their rooms safe and sound.

"Good night, you two." I waved at them before walking towards my own private chambers.

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Axel's POV

It was past midnight when I felt something strange. Immediately opening my eyes, I pushed myself to sit.

She's standing at the door, fidgeting with her hands as she looks uncertain. She's anxious and scared. Scrambling to my feet, I walked towards her.

With a gentle voice I approached her. "What's wrong, Aurelia? Are you alright?"

"Axel... I'm not used to this."

I grasped her hands in mine, "Don't worry, it's alright. Everything's okay now. No one will hurt us here."

"Why do you trust them so much? For all we know, this might only be a ploy to get on our good side, to make us trust them! What if they're going to sell us again? What if they're only going to use us? What if--" Her breathing ragged, her thoughts going faster than the wind, she's having a panic attack.

"Aurelia, stop! Breathe, okay? You're fine. We're fine. We won't suffer anymore. The Lunar Eclipse saved us. there's nothing to be scared of." Unable to support herself with shaky legs, Aurelia fell on her knees. I don't want to see this kind of scene any longer. I don't want to see my sister in pain anymore.

I'm upset with myself because all I can do for her is give her comfort. I embraced her under the moonlight from the window, her shoulders shook as she sobbed into my chest, clutching my shirt. I rocked her back and forth, gently stroking her raven hair.

When she calmed down I gently talked to her under my breath, "Don't you trust them, Aurelia?"

With a shaky breath, she shook her head, clutching my shirt tighter. "No."

"Well," a small smile graced my features, "I do. Although I've only known them for a few hours, I can tell that they're good people Aurelia. I'm certain they won't hurt us, that's why I trust them."

"How can you say that?" She croaked.

"I... I had a dream. Long ago, before they saved us. I saw them Aurelia, we were with them. We were happy, you were laughing along with them, and all of us are together. In my dream, you looked so happy I didn't want to wake up, because for the first time in a while, the warmth and mirth in your eyes finally returned. And... And I think they're the people that can help us. They would help us get through this."

They will help me make you happy.

"A dream?"

"Yes, when I woke up, my left eye kept on throbbing and it won't stop glowing. The arms of the clock kept on moving clockwise at a fast pace."

She looked up at me shocked, "Axel... D-Did you...?"

I gave her a toothy grin, "Yes! I think I was able to use this power of mine for once. Although I didn't think of anything about it for a while, now I understand what that dream meant. I saw our future Aurelia, with them. And they made us happy. They made you happy."

She shook her head, removing herself from me. "You can't be sure of that."

"I can hope."

"Hope will only lead you to disappointment, Axel. You of all people should know that." Aurelia shook her head as she moved to her feet. Walking silently towards the window where the vast sea of darkness can be seen.

"There's nothing wrong with trusting them, Aurelia." Still on my knees I looked at her, she had this far away look in her eyes.

"I won't trust them." Her harsh and sudden cold voice shocked me. She hasn't used that tone with me before. The coldness in her voice reminds me of that scene back at the lab, where she was strapped into the steel chair while screaming and thrashing madly. I shook my head, trying to remove that scene in my mind.

"I understand that you can't find it in yourself to trust them now, but I hope someday that you give them a chance to enter your heart Aurelia." I pushed myself to my feet, padding towards the bed.

I went under the covers looking at her for the last time. "Good night, Aurelia."

She remained silent as I closed my eyes. Before the world of dreams can fully take me away I heard her broken whisper.

"I can't, my heart has already been long dead."

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