Deja Vu
Chapter 18

~Present~

Adam was kissing her like there was no tomorrow. And for the first time in her long time, Irene was feeling something against his lips... Emotions... Love, lust, pain, grief, and fear.

For the first time, she was afraid of what was coming for her.

She didn't want to pull away from that kiss, but she had to... And so she did.

"I'm sorry... I have to- I have to ho." By that, she left Adam alone under the night sky.

The moment their lips broke apart, Adam's entire body started trembling furiously.

The world was spinning around him as his head ached along with the rest of his body.

He felt warm, and yet cold at the same time.

And then, everything went black and Adam stayed no longer awake in the world as he fainted and fell onto the ground.

***

He wanted to open his eyes, he wanted to seat up from where he was laying down, but the ache inside his head was bending him down.

But at last, with all the might he had left, Adam opened his eyes, just to replace himself in Sarah's house; his ex-girlfriend.

"Where is Irene!?" Was the first thing he spoke, but as he heard no answer, he sat up straight, replaceing himself on Sarah's couch.

"Oh, thank God, you're awake." Sarah said, walking inside the hall with Itsuki Kobayashi along with her.

"I need to see Irene!" Adam trued to stand up, but he was too weak, that when Itsuki pushed him gently, he fell back on the couch.

"Adam, we need to talk." Sarah spoke, sitting down on an armchair near Adam.

"I have nothing to say to you!" Adam retorted.

"Ans you don't have to." This time it was Itsuki's turn to speak. "All you have to do is listen. Just hear her out, mate."

"Fine. Just be quick with it."

"Look, Adam, I study Mythology–"

"Good for you." Adam broke Sarah off.

"Adam!" Itsuki sent Adam a stern look.

Itsuki was never serious about anything. The last time he could remember Itsuki being so serious about something was the day Adam's father died.

Which is why Adam finally gave in and decided to hear what Sarah had to say.

"Last night, I was the one who found you knocked out on the ground." She started. "So I apologized to my date and went after Itsuki for help. He said that you were supposed to be with Irene."

"I was!"

"What's the last thing you remember?"

"That we kissed, I guess?" Adam shrugged. "So what!?"

"Look... From the first time I saw that woman, I knew something was off about her."

"Typical ex-girlfriend." Adam muttered, receiving another look from Itsuki, so he let her continue.

"Itsuki told me everything about her." Sarah continued. "From the fact that she sang beautifully to charm you, to when she disappears whenever there's a full moon, or her pale face and red lips."

"Stop it. I know where you're going with this." Adam pointed out. "Irene's not a mythical creature!"

Adam knew that Sarah was always a believer; she believed in each and every one of the mythical creatures. When they were together, Adam said nothing for the sake of their relationship, but he never was one to believe this bullshit, as he used to deem it.

"Just listen, Adam, please." said Sarah. "When Itsuki told me about her disappearance on the full moon, my mind straightly went to werewolves." Adam scoffed at that point. "But then he mentioned her voice... Sirens was what I thought about."

"What the heck is a siren?" Adam grimaced.

"Beautiful women who enjoy the water of an ocean and sing; with their voice, they draw the men to themselves and compel them to do whatever they want."

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."

But Sarah avoided him and went on. "Pallid face was the sign of a vampire, at some point I even though of a Nymph or even Bogle-" Adam had no idea what those meant, but didn't question it either and let her continue. "But then Itsuki told me about what you saw in Irene's room, and it finally clicked."

Adam quickly remembered... In Irene's room, there was a jar made of glass which held to suspended blue-ish balls in itself, which looked as if they were made of gas. They had given Adam a feeling he had never felt before and he felt himself being dragged toward it.

"So? What kind of a creature is she then?" Adam said in a mocking manner. But Sarah didn't answer and threw down her head, looking a bit terrified.

Confused, Adam turned his head to look over at Itsuki, but even him avoided his eyes.

"Okay, just tell me what's wrong!"

By that, Sarah exited the hall and when she returned, she had a large and old-looking book in her hand.

She sat back down and with trembling hands, she opened the book. Itsuki was still frowning when Adam looked back at him.

That got him worried and finally more serious about the whole situation.

"In Greek mythology, we are taught about he Gods they had. And Hades was one of them." Sarah spoke, while studying the opened book with her eyes. "Hades was the god of the underworld, and he was a son of the Titans Cronus and Rhea. He also had two brothers; Zeus and Poseidon."

Adam was doing anything in his power not to roll his eyes.

"Hades drew lots with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon to decide which part of the world each would rule. Zeus received the sky, Poseidon the seas, and Hades the underworld."

"You mean... the God of the dead?" Adam raised a brow and Sarah nodded before continuing.

"In some myths it is said that Hercules loved this beautiful woman, Alcetis, who died. So–"

"–Wait, wait, wait, wait." Adam cut her off. "Hercules!?" He scoffed and then laughed. "This is it! I'm out of here!"

But before he could stand up from the couch, Itsuki stopped him again, forcing him to sit back down and to listen to the rest of Sarah's story.

"As I was saying, Hercules lost this beautiful woman to death and decided to get her back. Hercules stormed into the palace of Hades and demanded the return of Alcetis. Hades, who had a cold, unloving wife, was moved by such devotion, and let Alcetis return to the world."

She continued,

"But there is one other story that only a few believe in; in other stories, Hercules, with his inhuman strength, beats Hades in wrestling to allow Alcetis to return to the world. And so, he defeats Hades and locks him away."

"Your point?" Adam asked.

"She's getting to it." said Itsuki.

"Legend has it that before Hades got locked away, he had created a creature... A woman." Sarah stated. "It is written all over these books that she was as beautiful as a mermaid, her voice as ear-catching and calming as a siren, her face as pale as the moon... Because she had been made of the moon. She was the maid of Hades, bound for life, and that she is now free to roam this earth, not stopping until she could finally replace a way to bring back his immortal master; the God of the dead."

"So you mean... Irene's this so called maid of Hadees?"

"It's Hades, but yes. That's what I'm saying."

Adam was too shock to even laugh. "Don't tell me you believe this bullshit as well!" He turned to Itsuki and said.

"I'm sorry, mate. But I do." He muttered, making Adam to shook his head in disbelief and scoff.

"So what now? Is she gonna use her witchy joojoo to bring this Death's God due back or something?" Adam mocked. "Besides, what has it got to do with me?"

"It has everything to do with you." said Itsuki.

"What do you mean?"

"You're the last key to what Irene desires." Sarah answered. "Hercules was the son of Zeus, but due to coincidences, he became a human. But after defeating Hades, he was rewarded and became immortal. But in order to make a balance, when he was made immortal, mortal versions of him were made on earth, in the form of humans."

"You mean... Doppelgängers?"

"Yes." Sarah nodded. "Every century, a boy exactly similar to Hercules was born from the same bloodline. Irene looked many years for the prophecy which could help her bring bach her master, and I have it here."

So she read what looked like an old poem,

"It shall be on the night that souls crack, tears run, and thunders weep the light.

The morn shall beam and noon shall burn and the dead flee to walk the night.

The clocks will rehearse, to and fro,

when the lady of the night arise.

As she unites all the purest souls alive,

the sinister of the dark would rise.

So he will force a new era to produce,

For all hell is about to break loose."

She finished reading, closing the book and putting it away.

"No one ever could figure out what that meant, but I think I do now."

Adam raised a brow, waiting for her to continue. "Well?"

"Three pure souls is what she needs." said Sarah. "Three souls belonging to three mortal versions and doppelgängers of the person who defeated Hades; Hercules."

"You mean... I am... You're saying that I am one of those doppelgängers?" Sarah nodded. "But how!?" Adam snapped. "How the hell is she going to get my soul!?"

"Killing is what rips the soul apart. So in order to weaken your soul, she's gonna have you to kill someone, willingly."

Adam blinked, speechless, his throat getting dry. "Then what? She's gonna kill me?"

"No." Sarah shook her head. "She's not aloud to kill you. It doesn't work that way."

"Then how!?"

Sarah breathed heavily and swallowed before saying,

"You have to sacrifice yourself. You need to present your soul to the devil, willingly."