1 Chapter 1: Mother?

"I'll have a Cappuccino please" said a silvery voice, a young lady, her appearance, enthralling and radiant one. Her eyes the color of ocean green, a sharp jawline, cut by the sharpest of knives, yet its soft, her fine physique may even make the goddess of love and beauty envious, her alluring appearance hidden behind a mask, due to a pandemic that struck across the world.

Gentle footsteps were muddled by the busy sounds from the crowds, she sat beside a window, waiting for her drink to arrive.

Bells chimed in the soothing atmosphere as another person walked in. a gust of wind slid it, brushing past her, making one of her hair gently fall onto her face, as she blew it away the next moment in annoyance.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, here is your drink" a waiter stopped at her table and gave her the drink.

"thanks, you weren't too late" the silvery voice replied.

The waiter gave an astounded look due to the radiance coming from the crimson haired customer and proceeded to serve others after regaining his sanity.

"Well well, look who is here?" a stranger with a raspy mature voice with dark blue hair walks and sits Infront the beautiful ethereal lady.

"Althia…how have you been?" the stranger asked.

"I'm fine" the lady, Althia bluntly replied. Her body fidgeted uncomfortably. She proceeded to finish her drink the fast as she could to leave.

"Now now, do not fret young lady, I have come with news of hope." The stranger noticed the change and said.

"What is it?" the ocean green eyes stared at the stranger.

"Your family…lives" the stranger gently spoke.

"What!" Althia stood from her chair, knocking it over, all the eyes in the dine stared at her.

She ignored at stares and glared at the stranger.

"yes…but.." the Stranger snapped her fingers and everything froze in place, the smoke from the cigarette from another table, the fly humming over the soup, the waiter serving, the receptionist counting money, the stares, everything froze.

"You'll face the same people, the one who ruined, mended, cured, the ones who gave you happiness, sadness, death, life, they all shall meet you in that world, that is your test, as for your family, you'll meet them just as the way you met them in this…life.." the stranger looked at the shocked Althia and smiled calmly.

"In this life?" Althia stared deeply as if wanting to devour all the secrets within the stranger's.

"yes…unfortunately-" the stranger got up and silently looked at Althia.

"you'll…have to die, if you want to meet them in your next life" the stranger spoke.

"What?!, why do I have to die?!" She screamed.

"ah, the poison should kick in soon.." the stranger smiled coldy.

"P..poison?" she winced and sat on the seat.

"Yes..poison, in your precious drink" the stranger smiled.

"Althia, you shall be reborn, do not hold your anger towards me, if you want revenge for some unworthy cause, better first entertain us."

"…us..?" she asked.

"Oh dear, seems like your immunity is too good, time to do some extra work." the stranger took off his mask to reveal his face.

A strong jawline, red eyes that seemed like its on fire, perfect eyebrows, the facial muscles that seemed to scream beauty, the eyelashes that were beautiful than a woman's, he seemed like he came out of a painting.

"Althia…my apologies, but it seems that its time for you to leave earth." He waved his right hand and a small dagger with golden runes carved onto it shimmered and appeared in his hand.

"Wh-" Althia was cut as he swiftly dashed forward, invisible to human eyes, the boundaries of mortality didn't apply to him after all.

A soft sound echoed within the frozen room, blood trickled, gently one after another, Althia's eyes dimmed, losing life from it, the bright serene green..turning gray each trickle.

"I'm so sorry" a tear stream came from the unexpected, the stranger's lips quivered and wrapped his bloody arms around himself and tears streaked from his face, his body shaking slightly.

He threw away the bloody dagger from his hand, and gently placed the body of Althia, on the ground and closed her eyes and took out a teared cloth and wrapped it around her chest, the dagger went straight to her heart.

Her eyes, felt like of silk, pity, she left this world, to never return, ever again.

"Althia, remember my name, Laurent, I shall wait for you, the one who shall conquer and defeat the fates herself along her beloveds." He wore his mask, the once fiery eyes, dimmed to a gentle orange.

He carried Althia in arms and disappeared, leaving shimmering blue sparkles in his place as if his hair was set aflame.

The diners started move again, everything unfroze, and no one noticed a single change.

"huh?..where is that red haired lady?.." one of the waiters stared at the empty seat. Only the cup remains to be empty, drunk completely.

"Althia! Get up you filthy b*tch!" someone splashed a bucket of water on Althia's figure as she was sleeping.

"Eh, what-" she hurriedly felt the person dragging her out of the bed by her leg and throwing her onto the ground. A hard thud was heard.

"Oww.." Althia flinched in pain as she felt her sides throbbing. She glanced at the one who injured her.

The same crimson hair, but with a lot of silver streaks that defined her old age, her cold blue eyes stared at Althia in arrogance and anger.

"Mother…"

"Don't call me mother you filthy pig!"