"James? What's wrong, baby?" I asked, returning his embrace.
"I just need to hold you for a moment," he whispered, pressing a kiss to my neck. He tightened his hold around me and we stood in silence for a bit. It felt as if this was the last time we'd see each other, which was beginning to freak me out.
“James, what's going on? You're worrying me."
He pulled back, looking me straight me in the eye. "Storm Yuna is dead. She was murdered last night."
"Crimson, you don't look well."
"I'll be okay, James. You know this always happens when I have to see my parents for family dinner. Let’s just get this over with so we can go for drinks after; that will calm down my anxiety." I brushed his concern away, running my hand through my short hair.
The last five days had been the most stressed I'd seen James in weeks. It wasn’t like I blamed him. The entire country was in mourning and the tension that pulsed through the streets was palpable. Storm Yuna had been murdered and now her pocket watch that contained both her magical essence and familiar was missing. The culprit had yet to be identified, but he or she was likely part of an organization that had been causing disturbances around the world.
I didn't know much of the details and James was too rattled to tell me anything more. I'd kept myself busy with my artwork and daily runs, since sword dance training was canceled for the entire week and James was barely around. The last four days, he had slept at his family house and had finally come home today, which was also the day I had to deal with my family during dinner at the shrine.
With everything that had happened and with no leads or clues to the murderer who was apparently strong enough to kill the most powerful mage of our time, I could guarantee my father wouldn't be in a good mood. No, he'd be in a foul state and take his frustration out on me through insults.
I wanted to cancel or make some excuse, but I knew he'd only use it against me and I did miss my mother's cooking. But now that dinner was only seven hours away, I felt sick to my stomach and I was struggling to stay conscious. I just needed to convince James I was fine until he went out for food so I could lay down and pretend I fell asleep on the couch.
I was currently in the living room, trying to distract myself with working on some of my recent commissions, but I had been staring at the blank canvas for fifty minutes and hadn’t drawn a single stroke. That only happened when I was sick or extremely anxious and James knew it.
"Why don't you take a break? You've been staring at your canvas for almost an hour and I know you don't get artist block unless you're nervous or unwell." James' words echoed my thoughts.
I bit my lip and sighed, allowing my tense shoulders to relax.
"Fine," I whispered, placing my brush and palette of acrylic colors onto the high table stand I'd positioned next to the 24” X 36” canvas. I let my hands run through my hair for what seemed to be the twentieth time, feeling hot yet somehow also winded, as if I'd just run a marathon. I closed my eyes for a second, feeling my heart pulse as if something was tugging at it. A pair of swords that reminded me of the ones I used to idolize when I was younger suddenly came to my mind.
My dad's sacred treasure was a pair of twin blades. They always used to remind me of Yin and Yang when I was younger. Maybe that's what had inspired me to learn sword dancing, but nevertheless, they were one of the few weapons Dad always kept in his office. They were extremely powerful and would have been his first choice of weapon if he ever had to go to battle.
Because I wasn't a shifter, my right to inherit them had been revoked. In fact, I hadn't received anything on my eighteenth birthday like most shifters did when they reached adulthood.
It was tradition to give your child a weapon that would help them fulfill their purpose in this world. James even had his own, a magic orb that practically tripled his magical aura and powers. He always carried it with him, but could also summon it upon command if he had to.
I could still remember how depressed I was when I hadn't received one; Dad and the rest of the Council agreed I wasn't worthy of such a privilege.
I tried to open my eyes again, but they felt weighted with bricks and I swayed on my feet, before falling backward.
"Fuck! Crim!" I heard James curse and I felt arms catch me in time before I hit the ground. I tried to respond, but my mind drifted away, until there was nothing but darkness.
Dreams.
Vivid images that flowed through your mind. Some were just images created by the imagination, while others showed images of what I sometimes wished the future would bring. They worked in riddles, confusing the dreamer with different messages, some easy to discover and understand, and others that made no sense whatsoever.
I always tried to remember as much detail from my dreams as possible, regardless if they were a simple memory or a detailed, unreal adventure.
This particular dream came in the form of images, running through my mind like I was watching an oversized theatre screen.
A beautiful fox that reminded me of Mother emerged before me. A Kitsune maybe? I couldn't really tell. Her bright pink eyes stared at me while her pure white tails waved back and forth. I wanted to reach out and pet her, to figure out who she belonged to, but then she began to fade. The only thing I remembered was her sad looking eyes.
The next dream took place during a blizzard. In front of me was a large cliff, something impossible for me to climb during the harsh snowstorm that beat my skin. I felt so cold, wrapping my arms around myself in an attempt to insulate the heat that escaped me with each passing second. I couldn’t stay here any longer or I would die. But how would I get up there? What could I do? The image faded before I could make a final decision.
Finally, a woman's silhouette appeared before me. I don't know why I knew she was beautiful and powerful, but my mind imagined her that way. I knew my thoughts were playing with me, making up an image to make me feel less confused as Storm Yuna appeared before me. She had a sad smile on her face and her white dress was covered in blood.
"Help them. I beg you," she whispered, through sobs.
She looked so desperate and sad. Whoever she wanted me to save was dear to her, but who were they? Why would a human like me have anything to do with Storm Yuna? Our meeting was nothing but a coincidence. Now that she was gone, there was no way for me to help her.
That was the last image I saw before the darkness enveloped me once more.
"This can't continue! Every single time she has to come see you guys she gets seriously sick. She fainted. No, there wasn't a nosebleed this time. Why does any of this matter? Mrs. Arashi, this has been going on for YEARS! Not just a few days or months. You out of all people should be concerned... Because I care about her obviously. Why else would I be calling you? Ugh. I'm sorry for my disrespect, but she needs to get checked sooner rather than later or Mr. Arashi just has to deal with not seeing her for longer periods of time."
I stirred awake; James’ angry voice only made the headache that currently assaulted my senses worse. I struggled to open my eyes and was greeted by the dimly lit living room.
This wasn't the first time I'd fainted suddenly. It started when I was eighteen and had continued on and off since. Of course, it only happened when I had to see my parents. I guessed this time would be no different.
James had told my father about it once and he'd brushed it off like it was nothing, telling me to take my vitamins like the rest of the human race and I'd be alright. Totally supportive.