New Life, New Secrets, New Destiny
Chapter 7
"She hasn't come back yet Ryo?" Sage asks as he watches his friend stare out the window into the dark, raining environment.
"No. And I'm starting to worry. It's been raining for a while and she said she was only taking a short stroll."
"You shouldn't worry so much about her Ryo. This is Mia we're talking about. Plus, she has White Blaze with her," he says, putting his hand on his shoulder in a sign of comfort.
"I know I should believe in her more, but it seems so hard to."
---
Mia and White Blaze walk down the deserted street, the rain pouring onto them. Mia watches sadly as a cat runs across the street in an attempt to find shelter. "Why does everyone hide when it rains White Blaze? Isn't it the rain that cleanses everything? I prefer the rain to a sunny day anyway. So much more peaceful." They continue walking when they soon reach the gate to the town's shrine. Mia stops only for White Blaze to growl and give her a little shove away.
"We'll head home soon White Blaze. I just need to head to one more place," she says, rubbing him on the head and heading in, White Blaze in tow. "This is where it all began. Where we first arrived. Though it was a shrine made by normal people, there is such a strange aura around this place. It must be why the angel chose this place to build it," she thinks to herself as she stops herself by the red pillar, placing her hand on it and closing her eyes as she lifts her head towards the sky.
"Angel of Light, why are you waiting so long to appear? Why are you hiding? Is there something more, something more than even I know about?" She opens her eyes, turning around and leaning on the pillar. She puts her weight on it and she slides onto the damp ground, her legs tucked under, looking straight into the small gazebo. "I wish I knew exactly who out enemy was. I feel like it's somehow familiar, but different, more demonic than before. Angel of Light, please guide me in the right direction. Lend me your power, your knowledge." She closes her eyes again, taking in a deep breath, and then opening them, seeing what could be described as an angel shrouded in white.
"I can help you, but only if you help me. I can not make myself known in the mortal world yet, to the other warriors. It is not the right time. Yet, I still wish to help your plight. Grant me your soul and promise that anything that I share with you, you must not share with any, even your husband, and I will protect you and the ones you love, Mia of the Heavens."
"I give you everything I have. My heart, my body, my soul. I will keep your secret."
"Very well then." Mia bows her head as the glow starts to fade away. Behind her, each pillar begins to glow, only faintly. Suddenly, she pops her head up, eyes wide as saucers as one word comes out of her mouth.
"Talpa."
---
Mia stands outside the manor, hidden within the forest, giving some shelter from the rain. She stares straight at the window with the light, showing where the living room most likely is with her husband and friends waiting. "How can I go back to them without being able to tell them? The secrets that I hold. Will we ever truly be able to live a normal, peaceful life?"
---
"She should've been back by now," Sage says, starting to worry himself.
"It has been quite a while," Rowen responds.
"I'm going to go look for her," Ryo says, taking the umbrella he had been keeping on the side just in case.
"We'll go with you." Ryo opens the door, fellow warriors behind, only to stop before going outside. A few feet in front, stands Mia, soaked to the bone and frozen in place, the tiger right by her.
"Mia." He opens his umbrella and heads out, covering her as he reaches her. "What are you doing out here without an umbrella?"
"Ryo," Mia whispers, soon followed by her eyes rolling to the back of her head and collapsing towards the ground. Ryo catches her before she hits, letting go of the umbrella. The rest of the warriors soon rush out to check on their fallen friend.
"Mia!" he yells at her, putting his hand on her head. "Damn. She's burning up. We need to get her to a doctor."
---
"How is she?" Ryo asks, his hand gripping Mia's as she lies in the white hospital bed. A doctor stands by the end, looking through the charts.
"Looks like pneumonia. Most likely from staying out in the rain for so long. Normally, I wouldn't be so concerned, but with her pregnancy, it complicates things."
"Ryo?"
"Mia. You're awake. How are you feeling?" He looks down to see his wife's eyes try to adjust to the bright light, her free hand going for her head.
"Tired. Where are we?"
"At the hospital. You fainted before you got home. What in the world were you doing out in the rain with no protection for so long?"
"Lord Ryo please," the doctor says, trying to prevent an argument. He redirects his gaze to Mia, you returns it. "Lady Mia. I am Dr. Yo . You don't have to worry about anything. We're going to make sure you get better."
"I want to go home," she says curtly.
"But Mia…"
"I just want to go home, please?" she asks, making herself get up into a decent sitting position.
"Doctor?"
"Well, I would advise against it, but I can't make you stay. I'm recommending complete bed rest and no getting out unless absolutely necessary. I'll give you a prescription for some medication to help and some more instructions on taking care of her. You're taking care of a pregnant woman now, so you have to be concerned about her and the child. I'll try to come by sometime this week to check up on her, if that's okay with you?" he concludes, signing the chart quickly.
"Thank you so much doctor," Mia says, turning so her feet touch the bed.
---
"How is she?" Cye asks, getting up from his seat as everyone waits downstairs for news.
"The medication has pretty much knocked her out. She has a pretty high fever and is ordered to bed rest. I would really appreciate it guys if you guys could maybe help her out. You know she doesn't like to be cooped up so maybe if we can make her more comfortable, she'll get better faster," he asks of the people in the room, looking almost ashamed.
"Of course we will Ryo. Mia is family to us."
"Yeah. It's the least we could do after she took care of us so many times in the past."
"Thanks guys. I just feel like I'm failing her. I'm her husband. I'm supposed to protect her from everything. But something's going on with her, and I have no idea what's wrong or how to help her. All I can do is stand around until it stops or she faints."
"It's not your fault man. We all wish we could something to help, but if she doesn't tell us, we can't do a thing," Kento says, patting his friend on the back, earning him a grin and then showing him to an open seat.
"What was she doing out in the rain anyways? She looked like she was soaked to the bone when we found her," Kayura asks out loud.
"If only White Blaze could talk, we could ask him," Yuli says, petting the sad looking tiger on the head.
"What ever it was, it really disturbed her. And things just keep getting more and more complicated with her," Ryo says, everyone returning to deep thought.
---
"My head hurts. It's hard to breathe. What's going on? That's right. I'm sick from being out in the rain. Why was I in the rain? The angel. My enemy. What am I going to do?" Mia thinks to herself. She attempts to open her eyes again, turning in the direction of the opening door. After blinking a few times, she realizes that the person in the doorway is Ryo, holding a tray of what looked like food. He steps into the room, a big smile on his face.
"Good morning Mia. I was hoping you were up. I brought up your breakfast and medication. You haven't eaten in a while. Cye made it too, so you know its going to be good." He puts down the tray on the dresser, then turns around to see Mia sitting up, a scared look on her face and tears starting to run down her cheeks. His face now growing in concern, he walks over and sits down next to her on the bed, her eyes following his every movement. "Mia, love, what's wrong? Are you in pain? Did you have some type of vision?" he asks, putting his hands on her cheeks. After a few hiccups, she throws herself into his hands, crying full force.
---
Downstairs, the remaining warriors close their eyes and try to ignore the howling coming from the woman. "I don't think I've ever heard anyone cry that loud," Cye comments.
"What in the world is happening to her?" Sage asks out loud, looking up the stairs.