"Honey! look! she's opening her eyes!" a man's voice was heard.
"Awe, she got your eyes, sweetie!" A woman's voice cooed.
"She's so cute!" they both cooed.
"Hi honey, I'm your daddy!" the man said proudly.
"And I'm your mom."
"Your name is Reina Clarissa Knightley-Winchester." Mr. Winchester said proudly.
"Your name, Reina, means 'queen'. We hope one day you'll be a good one." Mrs. Winchester smiled.
"Clarissa Knightley is your mom's name, darling. And Winchester is my surname." Alex Winchester smiled.
"Do you like the name, darling?" the baby in the woman's arm giggled.
"Awe, she giggled!"
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Hey, Reina honey, can you say 'Mommy' for me?"
"Clarissa! she's still too young~"
"M.. Mo.."
"Did you..." "Hear that?" Mr and Mrs Winchester gushed.
"Mommy!" Reina flung her arms up high.
"Ohmygod she just spoke!" Clarissa beamed.
"Daddy! say Daddy please- honey?" Alex begged.
"Daddy!" Reina squealed.
"She's a GENIUS!"
oOoOoOoOoOo
"You have such a nice hair color, Reina." Clarissa praised. She was combing Reina's hair.
"They look- .. pinkie!" Reina grabbed a strand of her shoulder-length hair.
"They're a mixture of my blonde and mommy's ginger, kiddo!" Alex smiled and ruffled Reina's hair.
"Daddy! Mommy just combed my hair!" Reina whined.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Mommy!"
"AH!" Clarissa was shocked to see Reina behind her. She almost dropped her knife. But her quick reflexes made it.
"Reina! What do you need?" Clarissa squatted until she was at Reina's height.
"Um, I need.. a... towel... you put it too high.."
"um.. okay.. here i got it sweetie." Clarissa took the towel from the uppershelf cupboard. "Thankyou.. Mommy!" Reina bowed, thanked, and ran to her room. Clarissa smiled, seeing how fast her child had grown.
"Since when can she stealth-walk!?"
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Reina Winchester! why are you covered in oil!?" Clarissa gasped.
"Um.. I was in the lab with daddy..." Reina reasoned.
Clarissa just sighed.
"Go clean yourself this instant, I expect you to be sparkling clean." She pointed to the bathroom.
After seeing her child go to the bathroom, Clarissa grumpily walked to her husband's laboratory.
When she came in, Alex Winchester was bouncing around the room with happiness.
"Honey!?" Clarissa called for her giddy husband.
"Oh! Clarissa! you wont believe it!" Alex came and holded Clarissa by her shoulder. Clarissa raised an eyebrow.
"You See, Reina-Our lovely, smart daughter.."
"Go on,"
"I was making this new invention and got stuck- which I rarely do,"
"Uh-huh."
"And I was experiencing a mental breakdown when Reina came..."
"Hi Daddy!" Reina came by her father's desk.
"Hey darling..." The usually cheerful Alex Winchester was not as cheerful- as usual.
Reina sensed it.
"What's the matter daddy?" She came over and took a look at one of her father's newly-made invention.
"You see- sweetie. I can't make this thing function. I tried several things with it, but the circuit just wont connect, and if it does, it starts producing smoke, and not the good one.." Alex sighed.
Reina took the thing and rotated it, thinking about a solution. Not long after, she found a hunch. And it led to a conclusion.
"Can I jave the solder, daddy?" She lent a hand, without looking away from the thing.
"Um, sure, honey. But.. If your mother found out about this..." Alex started thinking about the consequences his wife will do to him.
"Oh, she wont now, if you didnt tell her."
She started working on the circuit. Alex watched his child, soldering away. He came to a realization, that his child is truly a genius. He teached her the basics, but she got the complicated part done.
"Done! here you go daddy. Try it!" Reina smiled and gave the circuit back to her dad.
"Thankyou, Reina." He ruffled her hair.
He tested the thing he was making.
"It worked!" Alex beamed.
"IT WORKS! REINA HONEY, YOU'RE A GENIUS!" he hugged Reina, and spun.
Reina smiled.
"Daddy... You're getting oil over me." She giggled.
"Haha, sorry darling." He put his daughter down.
"Go clean yourself and help me afterwards." He smiled.
"Okay!"
"YOU LET A CHILD USE A SOLDER!?" Clarissa hit her husband.
"Ouch! I didn't. Come to think of it, I think she saw me soldering, and came to conclusion how to use it herself." He got serious.
"She sure grows fast..." Clarissa sighed.
"Yes, she does."
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Reina, what are you reading?" Clarissa came to her daughter's room, carrying a tray of cookies and milk.
"Um.. Advanced Mechanics vol. 3." Reina closed the book just to see the title.
Clarissa raised an eyebrow.
"So.. those stack of books," She pointed to the stack of 8 thick books.
"Must be your next reading material?" She asked.
Reina looked over. "No, I've read them all."
Clarissa was shocked, to say the least. In the stack of books, she can see several titles like,
Galaxies, Aliens and Humans, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Sonic Power, even Zeta Technology.
Her husband must be the provider of all these books, She thought. Reina isn't that normal as she thought she was.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Clarissa snuck in her sleeping child's room. It was past midnight and her child was sound asleep.
She slowly opened the door.
"Wasn't it creaking before? She must've oiled it herself."
When she turned to Reina's bed, she gasped.
Things were levitating. Her books, a glass of water, stationary, and even her hair.
Clarissa saw this as a hint. Her daughter... She's slowly getting her own powers.
"I thought I sealed it away.. The magic just turned out to be in my daughter." Clarissa smiled sadly, remembering her past.
She missed having powers, but she gave it all away to be normal. To be human. But her daughter was passed down her powers.
"One day, Reina. You're gonna be the most powerful human in the entire galaxy."
Clarissa petted her daughter's head. As she petted it she felt a tingling sensation.
She looked at her hands.
It was faintly glowing..
Clarissa smiled sadly.
She made a resolve in her mind that her daughter will hide her powers from the evil.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Alex, honey, we need to talk."
"Sure, darling. what is it?" Alex smiled softly at his wife.
"Its about.. Reina." Clarissa sighed.
"What about her?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"She.. inherited my powers," Alex gasped.
"I went to her room and saw that she's... levitating stuff in her mind. I felt a tingling sensation when I touched her forehead." Clarissa explained.
Alex just nodded and listened.
"I want her to hide her powers. just until she's ready." Clarissa said.
"Isn't that going to affect her greatly after that?" Alex raised an eyebrow.
"I'm sure she's gonna take it well. She's smart after all. She takes after you." Clarissa smiled softly and held her husband's cheek.
Alex smiled softly and hugged Clarissa.
"I just wanted to protect her from all the evil my past was. I don't want her to experience it like me." Clarissa said weakly.
"I know, honey." Alex patted her back.
"You know.. My mother died when I was pretty young," Alex's eyes widened.
"Honey..." He whispered.
"I think my time is coming soon. I won't be dead completely, but I won't have a human body as her powers get stronger. That's how my mom died too."
Alex frowned. "So.."
"If I die from the lack of magic as Reina grows stronger, My body will die here on earth, but my soul will rest in Corona."
"Hmm.. like an angel? who fell from heaven and became human, dies and went back to heaven?"
"yes, if you put it that way. But.. I can't come and visit earth, this world." She said sadly.
"My body isn't materialized. Only the King can grant this. but I abandoned Corona.. to became a normal human. If I didn't, I was going to be immortal all my life." She smiled.
Silence. Alex just observed his loving wife.
"So, you.. Do you regret it?" Alex asked.
"No. because I got to be with the one I love and make a lovely family with him." Clarissa kissed his cheek.
Alex just chuckled.
"Oh Clarissa, I wish I can be with you forever." He smiled sadly.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Hello. Young one." a voice was heard.
"Where am I?"
"In your dreams." the woman's voice giggled.
"Who are you?"
"Why, I'm Lucielle. Nice to meet you, Reina darling." A person suddenly materialized in front of her.
"Just.. what are you?"
"Haha. It's no fun If I tell you."
The woman had dark, scarlet red wavy hair. She was very beautiful.
"Observant, I see. Just like your father." she chuckled.
Reina gasped.
"Don't worry darling. I bring you no harm. I see that you aren't ready yet. I'll come back when you are."
Reina then woke up and sat straight on her bed.
She never saw the woman in her dreams again.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Reina, Happy Birthday to you!"
"Mom, Dad, I'm not a kid anymore.." Reina whined.
She blew the candles of the cake that her mom baked. It also read; 'Happy Birthday Reina, 14 December 2007'
"You're still 8, honey. that's still a kid's age." Clarissa laughed.
"You sure grow fast." Alex faked-wiped a tear.
Reina was now an 8-year-old. She has grown pretty well. Her hair got longer. It was now shoulder length. The strawberry blonde hair got more wavy. Her eyes got more blue.
Reina smiled at her parents. She was home schooled. They were afraid that she wouldn't fit in with that genius nature of hers.
"Here is your present, honey." Alex gave her a box.
"Here is mine!" Clarissa also gave her a box.
"Mom, Dad, you don't have to!" She chuckled.
"Open mine first, honey!" Alex motioned.
Reina smiled and opened the box. It was mittens.
"They're pretty, dad!" She took it and wore it. But as she looked back onto the box, she saw a watch, and a letter.
"Dad!" She whined. inside the letter was wishes to live well from her dad. and an early Christmas present.
"Merry Christmas too honey!" He laughed heartily.
She opened the mittens and put on the watch.
"I made It my self honey, your mom designed it with me." He smiled.
Reina almost shed a tear and hugged both of her parents.
"Thank you."
Then she opened her mom's present.
It was a beautiful, red ruby. In there was a necklace clasp.
"Mom! it's beautiful." She gasped.
Clarissa took the ruby and clasped it in Reina's neck.
"You look good on it honey."
She thanked both of her parents for the presents.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"So, you made the sensor? so when her power level suddenly fluctuate we're gonna get a notification." Clarissa clarified.
"Yes. and your necklace will keep her powers sealed." Alex nodded.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Happy Birthday, little one." A beautiful woman materialized in her dreams again.
"Um.. Hello lady. It's you again. I haven't seen you since I was 5." Reina smiled at the woman. The woman looked at Reina up and down. She chuckled. "You have grown indeed. You got even prettier." The woman praised.
"Thank you, miss- Lucielle?" Reina asked unsurely, trying to remember the woman's name in front of her.
"Yes, you remembered my name correctly. How have you been doing, little one?" a table and a chair suddenly materialized between Reina and Lucielle. "Woah! How did it—" "It's your dreams, Reina. Anything can happen." Lucielle explained.
"Then can I—Oh my!" Reina thought of a beautiful scenery, and it appeared in front of her. "This is gorgeous!" She ran through the flower field. Lucielle just sat at the chair. Tea was also served, ironically.
"Reina, darling. Can you come and sit here? I need to talk to you." Lucielle motioned to the other chair in front of her. Reina came and sat down. "Tea?" Lucielle offered. "Sure, Thank you." Lucielle then poured Reina some tea.
While pouring, she asked, "How is your family, dear?" Lucielle stole glances to Reina. After done pouring the tea, Lucielle motioned for Reina to drink it. "Dad is as active as he'll ever be, but mom…" Reina took a sip and then put the tea down. Lucielle, who was also drinking her tea, put the tea down.
"Go on," "She has been coughing, since a year ago. And sometimes it got worse. But today, it died a little. The coughing, I mean." She smiled sadly. Lucielle was smiling sympathetically. She knows what's coming. She felt pity on Reina. She's still a young kid. She won't know what hit her.
"She will get better soon, darling." Lucielle felt bad to spit out the lie. But she needed to. "Thank you, miss Lucielle." Reina smiled. "Please, just call me Lucielle." She smiled. "Ok."
After that, Lucielle and Reina talked until it was time for Reina to wake up. "Bye, Lucielle, I hope we meet again." Reina smiled cheekily. Lucielle just nodded. "Goodbye, little one." And then she disappeared.
Reina never saw her again in her dreams.
oOoOoOoOo
As Reina was sleeping, Clarissa and Alex Winchester was standing by her bedside. Things weren't floating anymore. But the watch was glowing.
"See, the watch is glowing." Clarissa pointed to the watch. "And I sense energy from inside her. She's on dreamworld, I know it." She touched Reina's forehead. "I hope that she's going to control the power well. Please guide her, Alex." Clarissa begged.
"Sure, honey."
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Reina, darling... this is Bruce Wayne." Alex Winchester motioned his daughter. They were inside a nice looking office in Wayne Enterprises.
"Hello, young girl." Bruce greeted.
"Um.. hello." She responded shyly.
"Ah, so you're the smart one that Alex always babble to me at work." He smiled.
Reina raised an eyebrow.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Wayne. It's an honour to meet you." Reina greeted.
Bruce just chuckled.
"You can call me Bruce. How old are you, Reina?" Bruce asked.
"I'm 9 years old now." She smiled.
"Ah, Reina, can you leave us to talk for a moment? don't go anywhere far." Alex smiled to Reina.
"Um.. Okay then." She just nodded unsurely, and then went to the playground that she heard Wayne Enterprises had downstairs. She took the elevator down and made it to the playground. Bruce Wayne has made the playground for the employees of Wayne Enterprises who has kids so they can play here. They even have day-care on the fifteenth floor.
She walked to the monkey-bars. She tried to swing on the monkey bars. But as she got to the third one, her arms gave out, and she fell. "Ouch.." Her elbow was scraped.
"Don't give up, honey. No matter what it takes!" Reina remembered her mom's encouraging words. She won't give up. She climbed on the steps to the monkey bar. She tried again. She got to the fifth one. But her arms got weak and she fell again. This time she scraped her knee.
"I'm gonna try again," She huffed, dusted her clothes, and stood. Humans learn from mistakes. And Reina does. She corrected her grip. She got it until the seventh and she braced herself for the fall.
She closed her eyes, expecting to fall to the sand again, but felt two strong arms carrying her. In reflex, she put her arms around her savior's neck.
"You aren't falling off you know," A young boy's voice was heard. Reina slowly took a peek. When she opened her eyes, she found herself looking at a handsome young boy. He had beautiful blue eyes.
"Hi. Are you done staring?" the boy chuckled. Reina realized what she did and blushed beet red. "Um—uh, S-sorry!" She stuttered. The boy slowly put Reina's foot down. As he bent, Reina observed his face.
He was young, but older than her. Maybe two-or three years. He's definitely taller than her. He also has blue eyes. His hair was black. The boy straightened up after he put her down. He saw that Reina was looking at him.
"Hello?" he snapped his fingers in front of her face. Reina snapped out of his thoughts. "S-sorry." She apologized. They stood awkwardly for a while. Until the boy held out his hands. Reina looked at it then at him.
"Hi. I'm Dick." The boy smiled. Reina raised an eyebrow. "Dick?" "Richard Grayson. Well, Dick is my nickname. And apparently everybody calls me this." He explained. She chuckled. As she did this, Dick raised an eyebrow. She laughed heartily after that.
"Ah, I haven't laughed heartily in a while." She wiped a lone tear that was falling, "Look, I even cried from laughing." She gave her finger for Dick to see. After she realized she embarrassed herself in front of a stranger. She instantly blushed and looked away. Her arms was behind her back.
"So," her head snapped to see Dick. "What's your name?" he asked. "Um—It's Reina. Reina Knightley—" "Reina means 'queen', no?" Dick asked, and Reina nodded. "Yeah." She then smiled.
"So I see you were trying to climb those monkey-bars," Dick pointed. "Yeah, and apparently I failed." Reina sighed. "Three times though?" Dick teased. Reina realized that he was teasing her. "Hey! It was hard." She pouted. "Oh really?" Dick smirked.
He loosened his tie, and removed his suit. "Can you hold these for me please?" Dick handed Reina his suit and tie. "Sure," She accepted the things. Dick started swinging on the monkey bars the instant he got there. "Woah.." Reina was amazed.
As Dick landed perfectly on the sand, Reina came over to him at the end of the monkey-bar. "That was perfect!" Reina clapped with sparkled eyes. Dick turned around and smiled. "Thanks,"
Reina was still smiling, amazed at Dick's acrobatic skills. "You sure are good at this." Reina praised. "I trained for a long time. Can I have my suit back?" Dick asked. "Oh-yeah. Here it is." Reina went to his back and helped him put his suit on.
She realized that he was wearing formal attire, and saw the brand of the suit. It was Armaniand it's damn expensive. 'He must be rich.'Reina thought. As he turned to take the tie, Reina already put it in his collar.
"Let me do it for you," She said, and tied the tie. Dick realized that they were standing close. He observed her serious face. She has blemish-free clean bright skin. It was a little tan, but still very bright. Her eyes were like his, blue, but her eyes reminded him of the ocean. Dick recounted the scene where his hands accidentally grazed her hair. It was very soft. Her hair was a nice shade of strawberry blonde, which came as a little pinkish. 'Her parents must be a ginger and a blonde,'Dick thought.
When he looked at her knee, there was no scrape from falling. He was sure that he saw her fall. Dick looked at her elbow. None.
Dick raised an eyebrow. 'wasn't there a scrape before?'
"Done," Reina patted his shoulders. Dick didn't realize that she was standing in close proximity to him. Reina smiled and Dick thanked her.
It was another awkward silence again. Reina tried being braver. And she initiated a conversation.
"So..." she started. Dick turned around and looked at her. "How did you.. do that. Swinging-act… or something." She asked.
"Trapeze. I'm a trained acrobat." he answered.
"Oh, really? How long have you trained?" Reina was curious.
"Ever since I was a kid." he smiled sadly.
Reina saw the change in emotions, so she decided not to pry more.
*Ring Ring*
Dick's phone rang. "Hello?" Dick excused himself from Reina and accepted the call.
Reina was looking at Dick's back. He had pretty board shoulders. She was staring the whole time until Dick came back.
"So, they want us to come back." Dick said.
"Where?"
"The office. Bruce wants us back." Dick lead the way.
"Wait, you know Bruce Wayne? THE Bruce Wayne?" Reina faced him, eyes widened.
"Um.. He's my adoptive father." Dick scratched his cheek.
Reina and Dick walked back to Bruce's office. They took the elevator up. Dick got to the door and knocked.
'Come in' a voice inside the office was heard. Dick opened the door and let Reina come first.
'a gentleman, nice.' She thought.
"Hello, Dick. And Reina." Bruce Wayne was talking to Alexander Winchester until They both came.
"Hi Mr. Way—Bruce!" Reina remembered that Bruce asked her to call him, without formalities. "Hey dad." She waved to her dad.
"Bruce," Dick greeted, and Bruce nodded. "Hello Mr. Winchester, long time no see." Dick went to shake hands with Alex Winchester.
"Oh, hello young Grayson. I see that you've met my daughter." Alex shook hands with Dick.
"Yes sir. We met at the playground downstairs." Bruce motioned them to sit at the sofa.
"Tea?" Bruce offered.
"Sure, thank you." Reina accepted the offer and then Bruce poured some tea in her cup. Reina took a gulp the tea.
"Well, Reina, I've heard that you're interested in Zeta Technology." Bruce started.
Reina almost spat out her tea, but she choked on it instead. Dick, who was at her opposite was concerned and held out a tissue box for her. Reina accepted it and took a tissue.
Alex patted her back.
"Did dad tell you that?" Reina glared at her father.
"Well yes, we're best friends after all." Bruce chuckled, And Reina got wide eyed.
"Dad! You didn't tell me that your best friend is Bruce Wayne! I thought he was just your boss!" Reina whispered at her dad, and hit his back.
"We go a long way back, kiddo." Alex laughed.
Reina huffed. And her bangs flew. She crossed her arms.
Dick was curious. A girl, 2 years younger than him. Is interested in Zeta Technology? She's nine! But Bruce told stories that this girl is smarter than her age. And maybe more.
"Well, to answer your question, yes. I'm helping dad on that… project of his." She trailed. "Project?" Dick spat and stared sideways at Bruce. Bruce looked back at Dick, and held a gaze that said 'I'll explain to you later,'
"I helped him make designs, but I'm not qualified to do more than that." She said.
"You're qualified." Bruce said suddenly.
"What? Since when?" Reina raised an eyebrow.
"Today. I just approved."
Reina got wide eyed and stood up.
"THANKYOU VERY MUCH MR. WAYNE! I mean, BRUCE!" She bowed.
"No problem, kiddo."
oOoOoOoOoOo
"You let her be in the project and not me?" Dick whispered harshly.
"Dick…" Bruce sighed.
"I'm experienced!" he argued.
"Well, She's really smart and passionate about it. Why not let her try? We can get fantastic results. Even Alex approves."
Dick just sighed.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Mom! Did you know that Bruce approves me of joining dad on his project?" Reina cheered.
"Oh really?" Clarissa patted Reina's back as she hugged her. And then she looked at Alex and raised her eyebrow.
"Just don't overwork yourself, honey. You already have soccer." Clarissa sighed. She was in bed, looking thinner, and pale. She looked at Reina's necklace. The ruby necklace that she gave to Reina. It controlled her magic to the naked eye, but it still drains her energy.
Reina had asked her parents for permission to join the neighbourhood's soccer club. At first they were reluctant, but seeing Reina's puppy dog eyes, they gave in.
As Reina got even more active, Clarissa got more sick.
"ok, mom." Reina nodded. She went back to her room to take a bath.
"Alex…"
"I know honey. I'll be careful."
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Reina!" Reina heard her name was called and turned around.
"Oh hey, Dick." She was carrying a box.
"Long time no see, where are you going?" Dick came over.
"I'm just going to dad's lab." She smiled. Dick's eyes went down to the box she's carrying. It looked heavy, with all the metal sticking out. Dick, being the gentleman he is, offered to carry it,
"That looks heavy, let me carry it for you." He said.
"Ah, not really. I can carry it by myself." She shrugged it off. Dick ignored her comment and took the box. As he carried it, he can clearly feel the heavy box in his arms. No normal person can carry this. But Reina isn't that normal, right? She carried it like it was nothing.
"Um—Thank you then." She smiled and went to walk to dad's lab with Dick following behind her.
Alex's lab is in the basement of Wayne Enterprises, and only certain people can enter (Bruce, Alex, and now Reina). She scanned her hand on the scanner, and took the box from Dick.
"Sorry, you're not allowed to come in here." She apologized. Dick just raised an eyebrow.
"It's top secret!" she whispered. Dick just smiled in the end and bid goodbye.
oOoOoOoOoOo
After the day ends, Reina went back home, with Alex's assistant, Michael. Michael worked with Alex for a really long time and became partners. Michael drove Reina home. But Reina wanted to buy some parts for her project. So she asked Michael to drop her at her favourite shop, 'Jenny's'.
"Thank you, Michael!" Reina opened the car door. "You're welcome, kiddo! Be careful!" He saluted and went back to Wayne Enterprises. The street was empty, and Reina lives in the luxurious part of Gotham. Thanks to Alex Winchester's family fortune.
Reina went inside the store and greeted Jenny, a girl older than her. She's a teenager, and her dad owns the store.
"Hey Jenny!" Reina waved.
"Oh hey, Rene!" Jenny put down the magazine she was reading and went over and high-fived Reina.
"The usual?" Jenny asked. "Yes," Reina nodded.
Reina had befriended Jenny the first time she came to the store. Jenny had a lot of interests that are the same as hers. And they became more close when Reina attended the soccer club.
They chatted for a while and then Reina walked home. When she was crossing the empty street, the plastic bag containing parts was torn. She huffed and bent to pick up the parts. As she was picking, suddenly a speeding car was speeding towards her. Reina was shocked. She closed her eyes, ready for the crash.
But what shocked her was, that she, was still in the same spot as she was, and the sound of the speeding car was already far away.
Reina opened her eyes, and turned around to see the already-far-away car. She patted parts of her body, to see that it was still fine. She looked to the ground where her parts lie, and they were crushed.
She hesitantly take the flattened out metal and carefully put them in her bag. She needs to find out what happened.
She walked home with a frown. She rang the doorbell , and Clarissa usually answers the door. Reina rung 5 times.
"Huh. Mom's usually answering." She thought.
She grabbed her bag strap and opened her bag. She searched for the house key, and when she got it, she put the key on the slot, and unlocked the door.
"Mom, I'm home!" She said. Her voice echoed through the house. Its unusual silence bugged her.
"Mom?" She went past the living room, then to the dining room.
"Mom!" She started to shout. She went to the kitchen, and Clarissa wasn't there.
"Oh my gosh," Reina got a bad feeling so she went to check every room.
She called out for Clarissa every time.
She went to the second floor. After checking every room, she went to her parent's room.
She stood in front of the door. She hold the door knob. She took deep breaths to calm herself down.
She finally calmed down, and started turning the knob.
"Mom?" the door creaked, and she gasped to see Clarissa, on the floor, and surrounding her was a pool of blood.
"MOM!" Reina instantly came by her side and hugged her mom.
"MOM! WAKE UP! MOM!" She cried. She checked Clarissa's pulse.
She touched Clarissa's neck, and no heartbeat was detected. She panicked.
Tears started coming out of her eyes, and her vision got blurry.
Her hands were coated by blood. Everything was red. Reina started to panic.
She went to the bedside table, searching for Clarissa's phone. Her hands were shaking, and she dialled Alex's number.
On the third ring, Alex picked up.
"Clarissa honey! Wha—" "DAD! MOM- MOM IS—"
"Reina!? What's the matter hon—"
"Mom," She cried. "S-She's…Dead…" And Reina fainted.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Where am I?
"Your dreams,"
Reina turned around and founded a woman, Lucielle.
Am I—
"No, You're in a coma." Lucielle sighed.
How…
"You saw…And your mind decided to shut down." Lucielle looked at Reina sadly.
Did mom... really...
Lucielle just nodded. Reina was really sad.
Lucielle came and gave her a hug. Reina then cried her tears out.
oOoOoOoOoOo
After the long tear shedding session, Reina woke up. She opened her eyes and saw white ceilings. Her arm was connected to the IV drop.
It's the hospital…
Alex Winchester was waiting for Reina to wake up. He saw slight movements of twitching from her hands.
In the instant Reina opened her eyes, Alex held her hand.
Reina tried to sit up. Alex helped her. They were in silence until they reached a mutual understanding.
They've lost Clarissa. A wife, A mom, a part of their little family, and lost a part of their hearts.
They hugged each other.
Reina and Alex spilled the tears that they've been holding in.
They mourned, for Clarissa.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Reina was staring at her mother's grave.
Clarissa Evangelista Knightley
08 February 1981— 18 September 2008
A Wife, Mother, and Friend.
It was after the burial. Her dad had left with all of the guests. Some offered her condolences. Some were whispering, how such a young child lost a mom.
Reina kept standing. The clouds were darkening. Drops of rain started to pour. Then it rained. She was slowly getting soaked.
Her black dress that she wore were wet.
Suddenly, a black umbrella covered her.
She turned around to see Dick Grayson, with a sad look on his face.
Reina stood still, and Dick searched her eyes. They were hollow. The usual sparkle was fading.
If Dick could see clearly, he would bet that she was crying. It was mixed with the rain. She was clearly holding back her tears these whole time. The pain of losing a family member…He knows what she feels.
As Reina was under the protection of Dick's umbrella, she carefully wiped the tear on her face. Dick slowly took off his suit with one hand, and held the umbrella in the other one. He carefully draped the suit in Reina's shoulder, so she won't get cold by the rain.
"Thanks…" Reina whispered.
Dick just gave her a sad look, and wrapped his arms on her body, giving her an assuring hug.
"It's gonna be okay… I'm here. Just let it all out."
Then Reina sobbed.
oOoOoOoOoOo
As Reina wept in her room, Alex was staring through the slightly opened door. He can't stand looking at his daughter like that.
Clarissa was dead, but not gone.
Her soul was sent back to Corona, wherever that is.
Alex thought of something for a moment… His conversation with Bruce Wayne.
WWW
"My deepest condolences, Alex. Clarissa was an amazing woman." Bruce patted Alex's shoulders.
"Thank you…Bruce." Alex was contemplating whether to tell Bruce their secret or not.
"You see… Clarissa's not really dead." Alex's statement made Bruce shocked.
"I prefer we talk… Somewhere private." Bruce offered.
They went to the Batcave. Alex has known Bruce's secret identity when he first started being the masked hero. It is, Alex, after all, whom made Batman's weapons.
"Hello, Master Alex." Alfred greeted.
"Hello, Alfred. No need for formalities," Alex greeted back.
"Would you like some tea, sir?" "Sure, Alfred." Alex nodded. "The usual?" Alfred smiled. "Of course! The tea you make is the best." They chuckled.
"So, Bruce…" Alex started. "Clarissa's not really dead. Go on." Bruce motioned.
"Her soul is resting in Corona. I guess her body is too." He sighed.
"Corona?" Bruce raised an eyebrow. "Her birthplace." Alex stated.
"I thought she was from England?"
"She's…magical." Alex got serious. "She says that people back in Corona had accents too. But she lost hers while adapting here."
"Define magical,"
"Goddess." Alex smiled.
Bruce just stayed silent. Alex then continued his story of Clarissa. After he was done, it was silent again. Alex pulled out an envelope from his pocket. Bruce stared at it for awhile. Then Alex gave him the envelope.
Bruce took the envelope and looked at the writing in front of it.
"A will? Alex—" "Bruce. Please listen to me. I… That will. Please take care of Reina as your own, if something happened to me." Alex smiled sadly.
"And Reina… Her powers. You remember what I told you last time." Bruce remembered that time where he came to his office, with Reina. Alex told him that Clarissa was sick, and it involved Reina.
After that, they needed to talk in secret so they went to the Batcave the next day. But Alex didn't tell him about Clarissa's origins.
"I have a detector which can detect her powers if anything happens. Here. You can have one too, in case of emergencies." Alex passed him the detector.
"Please, Bruce. Please take care of her when I'm not there."
"Of course."
WWW
"Reina," Alex knocked the door and opened it.
Reina stopped sobbing and wiped her tears. Alex walked and sat on her bed. He saw Reina's puffy eyes. Her nose was also red from all the snot.
"Yes, daddy?" She sat straighter.
"I'm gonna go now, sweetie. I fixed your watch for you, and I made it waterproof." He ruffled his child's hair. She's 9 now. Clarissa and him raised her well.
"But it's…" Reina turned to her desk and looked at her clock. "9 already dad!" she argued.
"I have a night shift honey." He sighed.
"But… It's lonely…" She frowned.
"If you miss me that much… Why don't you play with Rover?" He asked. Rover is their robotic dog. He's intelligent and is obedient. He usually charges himself on the dog bed. Right now, Rover's sleeping (charging) on the dog bed. Alex had made him when Clarissa started getting sick, so he will accompany Reina play.
"Okay…" Reina nodded.
Alex ruffled his child's hair. "Go to sleep honey."
"Okay dad." He kissed her forehead.
"Good bye, Reina."
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Bark! Bark!"
"Hmm… Good morning, Rover." She petted the robotic dog's head.
"I guess dad isn't home yet…" She sighed, took a bath and went to take a bath. After taking a bath, she went to the kitchen to make some food, with Rover trailing behind her. She decided to put the necklace in her desk today.
Reina got an uneasy feeling today. It happened before when she was 'hit' by a car.
She poured herself some Milk and grabbed a pan. She turned the TV on to watch the news. She took eggs from the fridge.
She turned the stove on, then cracked one of the eggs.
"Breaking News—An explosion occurred in one of Wayne Enterprises' labs in Gotham, today, 25th September. The only scientist there during the explosion, Dr. Alexander Winchester—"
Hearing her dad's name in the news made her drop her glass of milk. It splattered on the ground with a great pang.
"No…No—" she said disbelievingly.
"Was assumed dead. The entire lab was burned during the fire. His Assistant, Dr. Michael Keane said that he was sent home early, and that Dr. Winchester wanted to complete the project himself. It is unknown what kind of project he was doing. This conclude today's news."
"No! NO!" Reina cried and everything went blurry. The alarm went off. There was smoke in the room. Her egg was already burnt. The sprinkler went off too.
Reina bent down and clutched her head. She screamed.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Beep Beep Beep Beep
"Bruce, your phone is beeping. Did you change your ringtone?" Dick asked. They were going to Wayne Enterprises.
"Breaking News—An explosion occurred in one of Wayne Enterprises' labs in Gotham, today, 25th September. The only scientist there during the explosion, Dr. Alexander Winchester—"
"I did not," Bruce said, "But I think I know."
"Wait—Dr. Winchester!? Bruce!"
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP
The 'Beep's got louder and faster.
"Something's wrong with Reina," Bruce frowned.
"What!?" Dick shouted.
"Alfred, make a detour and go to The Winchester's house. Did you bring the suits?" Bruce asked.
"Of course, sir. They're under the seats," Alfred made a u-turn and drove.
"Bruce, what's happening!?"
"Suit up!"
oOoOoOoOoOo
Batman and Robin stood in front of the Winchester Family's house. It was not big, and not small. It was perfect.
There was nothing wrong with the outside. They were dropped off by Alfred near here, and ran there. Alfred went back to Wayne Manor to prepare a room for Reina.
"Nothing is going on here." Robin said.
Batman said nothing and went inside.
"Reina! Reina!?" They both shouted.
They heard sobs in the kitchen. They both looked at each other, and nodded.
"Whoa…" Robin awed.
Things were levitating. No, everything is levitating! Even droplets of water too. Seeing the condition, it must be the sprinklers. In the middle, was a devastating sight.
Reina.
"Reina! Are you okay!?" Robin came over and shook her.
"Dad…" then she fainted.
oOoOoOoOoOo
"Child…"
"Lucielle…" She had known that Reina had lost another of her family. It's her father. Lucielle opened her arms for Reina.
"Dad… I'm all alone now…" She cried. Lucielle patted her back. She was wrong. She still has that Wayne man and little Grayson.
"No, Reina. You aren't." Lucielle encouraged.
"You have Wayne, and Grayson. Maybe your other friends from soccer club." Lucielle smiled.
"You are right. But they're not my family? And they never liked me anyways." Reina slowly stopped crying, then she frowned.
"Do you know the saying, 'blood is thicker than water', my dear?" Lucielle asked. Reina must know the meaning, she was smart.
"Family blood is thicker than your friend's bond?" She furrowed her eyebrows. "No," Lucielle stared off to the horizon in Reina's mind.
"Blood shed in the warzone is thicker than water from the womb." Lucielle recited.
"Are you saying that… My friends can become more than my family?" Reina looked up to Lucielle. "Yes, maybe even more."
Reina stopped crying. She was sitting in Lucielle's lap. She turned her head to see the horizon that Lucielle was staring at.
It was a beautiful sunset. The sky was orange with pinkish hues. They were sitting on top of an ice berg. The ice berg didn't melt from the heat of the setting sun. As Lucielle said, We can shape our mind with our imaginations.
"Yes… I still have Jenny. And Bruce, Dad told me to trust Bruce. How about… Dick? He's my friend right…" Reina trailed off. Lucielle smiled. Reina was never a negative person, unless triggered. She will always be cheerful in the end.
"Did I faint again, Lucy?" Reina asked, still staring out to the horizon. "Lucy?" Lucielle, or, Lucy blinked. "Lucielle's a mouthful, can I call you Lucy?" Reina smiled. "Of course."
"To answer your question, you did. You posses great power within you, waiting to be developed." Lucy explained.
"But why did the things float? I didn't want them to float,"
"Your powers are still raw. You must enhance your stamina. Since you're half magical and half human, you need to have a larger vessel to produce your powers. You can train your stamina, I'm sure the Bat would train you well." Lucy smiled.
"The Bat? Batman? Isn't he the one that rescued me? And there was Robin too. But I fainted after seeing a glance of them" She tried remembering the shocked faces of Gotham's protectors.
Lucy stayed silent, gazing to the sun. Her face was glowing in the sunlight. But her face was sad. It's as if she's remembering something.
"Did you lost someone in your war, Lucy? Since you're not from here and all…" Reina tried not to be nosy, but her curiosity got the best of her. Lucy snapped out of her gaze, and her eyes was sparkling. Were those tears forming?
"Sorry—I didn't mean—" "It's okay, Reina. Let the past be the past, live in the present, and don't worry about the future ahead of you. You reap what you sow." Lucy brushed her tears off her face.
Reina thought about Lucy's life lessons. She'd been through a lot…
oOoOoOoOoOo
Beep Beep Beep
"She's waking!" a boyish voice was heard.
Reina slowly opened her eyes and saw a boy, in front of her face. He had black hair and blue eyes. Dick Grayson.
"Ugh… Hi, Dick." She tried to smile, but her body was so strained. She slowly blinked to see her surroundings. It's all white. The hospital, again.
"Slow down, Rene. Don't over-exhaust yourself. Here, drink water." He slowly put back Reina in her sleeping position, after she drank. "Thanks…" She was looking around the spacious room. It was big, and she guessed it was a VIP room. Her arm was attached to an IV drop, and Dick was sitting next to her.
"How long?"
"Huh?" "How long was I out, Dick." She sighed. She needs to stop fainting all the time.
"Three days. The doctor said that you fainted because you over-exhausted yourself." He stated.
"How did I get here?" Reina finally asked. She had her suspicions.
"U-Um—"
The door finally opened. It was Bruce Wayne.
"Hello, Reina. How do you feel?" Bruce closed the door and came over to Reina's bedside.
"Hi Bruce. I'm fine now, just over-exhausted myself." She smiled. Since Dick didn't answer the question, she was going to ask Bruce.
"How did I get here?" She bluntly asked.
Dick tried to hide the fact that he was panicked. Bruce just raised an eyebrow, encouraging Reina to explain.
"I remember… before I fainted. Things were…Yes. And I saw Batman and Robin. Can you care to explain?" She asked.
Bruce and Dick looked at each other, then Bruce nodded.
"I'll explain later, at home." Bruce said. "H-home?" Reina said uncertainly. "Wayne Manor. From now on, you're Reina Knightley. Adopted by Bruce Wayne." Bruce stated.
"Whoa whoa whoa… adopted? Knightley? Where's Winchester!?" Reina slowly got mad. Her voice got louder. The glass of water that she drank was shaking. Both Dick and Bruce noticed.
"It was in your father's will… He asked me to adopt you as one of mine. And apparently, to not use the Winchester name. He said that it isn't safe, and some bad people might do something bad to you. Your dad, my best friend, Alex, requested this the day you met me, and the very first day you met Dick, back in Wayne Enterprises." Bruce explained.
Reina calmed down and slowly let it all sink in. She trusts her parents who makes judgements for her. She knew that they will do the best for her. And she will do the best for them.
There was silence until Reina looked back at Bruce, frowned, then smiled.
"I guess you're my new dad?" She smiled.
Bruce smiled back, then hugged Reina.
"Welcome to the Wayne family."
Dick watched the encounter and analyzed Reina's smile. As someone so young, she handles loss well. She has that ball of positive energy around her. She tries not to bring the negative energy out of herself. She's strong. And Dick can see her potential.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Two days later, Reina was discharged. She followed Bruce and Dick, into the car. They never left her side.
Inside the car, she saw an old looking man. With manners, she greeted the man.
"Hello. I'm Reina, Reina Knightley. You should be Alfred Pennyworth, Dick told me a lot about you." She shook her hands with the man.
"Nice to meet you, Miss Knightley. I hope Master Dick tells you good things about me." Alfred said in his accent.
"Please call me Reina. And yes he does! He said that your cooking is very delicious. Especially your cookies! I can't wait to try them all. Oh- Can you teach me?" Reina was smiling ear to ear.
"I like her," Alfred said to Dick and Bruce.
In the end, they all chuckled and Alfred drove them to Wayne Manor. When they arrived, Reina saw that it was huge! It looks like a castle, in her view. She was pretty short. But she guessed that she could change that. She hasn't hit puberty anyways…
"Welcome to Wayne Manor, Miss Reina." Alfred greeted.
"This is your new home." Bruce hugged Reina sideways.
"Home…"
"Hope we get along well!" Dick smiled.
Home.
"Wake me up, when September ends."
(created 03/12/16 11:29)