Legends of Amacia: Mysteries of Tiamat
The Awakening

Twelve hours later, Hannibalstirred. The ghostly face of the Lynxian Leila he kept dreaming about floatedin before his eyes as he rose into the twilight zone between being awake andasleep. “Don’t forget me,” she whispered, “and save me from my tomb, Beowulf.”

Hannibal gasped and snappedawake as Leila’s face melted away. The real world oozed into his awakening mindand body. The first sensation that greeted him was a strange, but pleasantsmell that barely tickled his olfactory senses. He yawned with a moan andstretched slightly as he opened his eyes, which were cloudy and not much use.He laid there for a moment as he rubbed his eyes and face with his hand. Hisvision gradually cleared with the ceiling of his quarters coming into focus. How’dI get here? he thought. Suddenly, he felt something move under his head. Heslowly turned his head and saw Selina stir as she lay across the head of hisbed. Seconds later, he realized that he had been using Selina’s belly and chestas a pillow. He glanced at himself first, and then at Selina, replaceing they wereboth fully dressed. His mind puzzled over this strange turn of events. How’d I get back to his quarters and end upusing Selina as a pillow, he thought. She stirred again and he looked intoher face as she opened her eyes. They gazed at each other for a few moments. Mygod…she’s so beautiful, Hannibal thought.

Selina looked at him with herhead on the pillow, smiling warmly. “Oh, praise the Lord! It worked. You’reawake,” she finally said with great satisfaction while lying there.

“Whatworked my precious angel?” Hannibal asked.

“We thoughtyou were a goner when you didn’t wake up,” Selina answered. “What do youremember?”

“Well, notmuch of anything,” Hannibal declared, rolling to the left, propping himself upwith his elbow. “I remember getting zapped by that thing in the Library andlearning a lifetime’s worth of stuff in a few minutes. I don’t seem to rememberwhat happened after it shut off except that I had a terrible headache.”

Selinaslowly sat up against the head of the bed, and then gently pulled him to her,letting him lay his head in her lap once more. “How do you feel?” she askedafter a yawn and a brief stretch.

“I feelweak, but I think I can get around,” Hannibal answered, looking up at her fromher lap. He grasped her hand and held it. “What happened? What day is it andhow’d I get here with you as my pillow?” he asked. She purred and stroked hishair.

“After themachine shut off, you passed out. Do you remember me catching you when themachine let you go?” Selina asked. Hannibal shook his head no and Selinacontinued, saying, “You told us that it was a teaching machine that had accessto all the knowledge of the Temple. Right after you told us that, you passed outand I caught you a second time. You had blood coming out of your ears, eyes,and nose and were so weak from the experience that you couldn’t even holdyourself up. Dad, Harry, and I took you to Station 1 and the crystal worked onyou for twelve hours. It played the music while it worked.” Hannibal’s eyebrowrose slightly at the mention of the music and she continued. “After the crystalwas done,” she explained, “we tried to bring you around but weren’t able to, sowe brought you back here and watched over you here. You’ve been out forthirty-two hours in some sort of strange coma. Nothing we did helped to bringyou around so after everyone went home last night I climbed on the bed, pulledyou into my lap, and purred for you. It was the only thing we hadn’t tried. Imust have dozed off while I was doing that. I thought that maybe my purr wouldhelp to bring you back. It looks like it worked.”

Hanniballooked deep in her eyes and reached up, gently caressing her cheek. “Thankyou,” he said softly with great gratitude.

Selinaclasped his hand with hers and held it to her cheek, replying, “You’re mostwelcome, Hannibal.” Her lips quivered as she kissed his hand. “Don’t ever scareme like that again,” she ordered, her voice trembling. “I can’t lose you.”

To Hannibal’ssurprise, he could feel and see her emotional connection to him. “Oh princess,”he murmured. “I didn’t mean to scare you. In fact, I think I scared myself withwhat happened. I should’ve been more careful. I’m sorry.” His eyes narrowed ashe stared into her eyes and soul. “And believe me when I say this: you willnever loose me, Selina,” he declared. “You’re the only soul in this entireuniverse who truly understands me.”

A smilecrossed her lips. “Thank you for saying that, Hannibal,” Selina replied. “Youmean the world to me. Now come on. Let’s see if we can’t get you moving aroundagain.” Selina ran her arms under Hannibal’s arms and gently lifted him so hecould sit up. Hannibal kicked the blankets off and slowly swung his legs overthe edge of the bed. Selina sat next to him on the edge of the bed. “Are youready?” she asked as she wrapped her arms around him in order to help him up.

Hannibalput his arm around her neck and shoulders and looked her square in the face.Without warning, he kissed her on the mouth. She melted in the kiss, absolutelystunned and enthralled with this new display of emotion on Hannibal’s part.“I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time,” he said gently, letting the lovefor her come out in his voice. “Harry and Mary were right. We’re kindredspirits…you and I. I’m eternally grateful for what you did over the lastthirty-two hours. I don’t think anyone else could have brought me out of that.I’ll always be there for you; ALWAYS.”

Selina wasspeechless. Tears welled up in her eyes and she embraced him tightly. “I’venever had a kindred spirit for real,” she finally said, choked with emotion.“I’m yours forever. I’ve loved you from the moment you saved me and dad fromthe supernova.”

“I know,”Hannibal returned with a smile. “I’ve felt the same way about you. In fact, Ican safely say that I’ve never felt this way about anyone else. What can I say?I have a thing for cats.”

Selinabroke out laughing and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you,” she whispered. “Iappreciate that.”

“Selina,”Hannibal murmured. “It’s okay to kiss me on the lips if you want.”

Selinagazed into Hannibal’s eyes and slowly kissed him on the lips. He held her closeas she kissed him. “Oh my,” she breathed after the kiss. “You’re so sensitiveand loving, despite this hard exterior you emanate. Why do you hide it? It’sone of your best traits.”

Hannibalsighed deeply, feeling a prick in his heart at her words. “I can’t help it,” heanswered after a pause. “A lifetime of fear, pain, horror, and heartache weldedthe hard shell I emanate. I know it hinders me and I wish I could smash it tobits, but I’m incapable of doing yet. I’ve not been able to heal the emotionaland spiritual wounds I received over a lifetime of pain and heartache. As aresult, I seldom, if ever, open up to people. But somehow, you saw my heartwith that kiss. How’d you do that?”

“I didn’tdo it,” Selina admitted. “You took off your mask when you said I could kissyou. You did something just now I never thought you’d allow. You lowered yourguard and let me see your mind and heart. All I did was just observe who youreally are. The burden you bear is crushing you. Please, let me help you bearthis burden. I can help you, if you just let me.”

“You don’tknow what you’re asking,” Hannibal replied solemnly. “I’m not the saint youbelieve I am. I’m tainted with a vile Darkness that’s wider than the knownuniverse. It plagues me every moment I breathe. To let you in like you wantwould expose you to evils your pure innocent mind can’t comprehend. I love youtoo much to submit you to that kind of terror and evil. Please, don’t ask me todo that to you.”

“You trulyfear for my safety by allowing me to help you bear this horrible burden,”Selina whispered.

“I do,”Hannibal stated. “I love you too much to allow your pure soul to be tainted bythe Darkness festering within me.”

“Then whycall me your kindred spirit?” Selina asked. “Kindred spirits help each otherbear their burdens, no matter how bad it may be. Please, Hannibal; I know downto the bottom of my soul that you spoke the truth when you said we are kindredspirits. Please, let me help you heal these wounds that continually fester inyour mind and soul. I’m sure that together, we can overcome this Darkness thattaints and plagues you. Don’t let fear stop you from doing what you know is theright thing.”

Hannibalcocked an eyebrow up when he suddenly understood her logic. “You clever minx,”he chimed, “you understood my words better than I did.”

Selinasmiled and touched her forehead to his. “Will you really let me in?” she asked.

“Yes,”Hannibal replied. “But you must be patient. It’ll take time for me to open upto you completely. It’s just the way I am.”

“That’s agood start,” Selina replied, briefly kissing him gently on the lips again. “I’mhere whenever you need me. Just don’t shut me out. I love you.”

Hannibalsmiled, giving her a gentle squeeze. “Okay,” he said. “I think I can do that.Now please help me up.”

Selinare-positioned herself to support his weight and they slowly stood up. Selinaheld one hand out over his chest to help stabilize him and the other arm wasaround his back for support. Hannibal wrapped his arm around her shoulders andneck, upon which he leaned heavily. His weakened legs at first refused tocooperate when he first stood. Slowly, strength returned to his legs and Selinaled him out of the bedroom into the living area.

When theyreached the living room the sound of Mary and Cynthia cooking in the kitchenand Harry, Dennis, Nathanael, and Dan talking in the living area greeted them.Dennis looked around and saw Hannibal and Selina first. “Hannibal! You’re allright!” he exclaimed, running to Hannibal and latching onto him in a hug.Hannibal weakly returned Dennis’ hug as Selina moved him toward the sofa. Theothers present turned their attention to him while Nathanael immediately movedto help Selina carry Hannibal to the sofa.

“Somethingsmells good,” Hannibal called out to the kitchen as Selina and Nathanael gentlysat him down on the sofa. Selina sat down right next to him, keeping an armaround his shoulder to help him retain his balance.

“You had usworried,” Dan said, looking Hannibal in the eye.

Hannibalremained terribly weak from the experience but managed to keep his head up inorder to look everyone in the eye. Tremendous fatigue showed on his face as hesmiled wearily at Dan. “Sorry about that,” he apologized. “I didn’t know thatthing was going to shred my brain like that.”

“Do youremember anything?” Nathanael asked, squatting down in front of Hannibal.

“Yeah,”Hannibal answered. “I remember sitting in the chair and saying that it was thestrangest thing I’d ever seen. I don’t remember much after that, except that mybrain was suddenly deluged with the knowledge of the ages. It felt like I wasin there for several lifetimes. For me, time seemed to stop. I found myselfimmersed in the machine, controlling it with the power of my thoughts. It wasas if I merged with the machine, becoming one with it. Becoming one with thatmachine and controlling it with my thoughts rattled me somewhat. It reminded meof the old days when I was a wizard. Anyway, I seem to remember that I learnedto control the machine, and then unlocking the files and learning the entirehistory of the Temple, including the Stone Language. Unfortunately, most ofwhat the machine placed in my tiny, feeble mind is slowly leeching away. I’vebeen unable to retain most of the information I received. All that’s left arebits and pieces. The only really big chunk that I’ve been able to retain is whatI learned about the Stone Language. That may be because of how much exposureI’ve had to it already.”

Hannibalstopped and yawned as Nathanael asked him, “Do you remember anything else?”

Hannibalshook his head, saying, “No, I vaguely remember seeing Harry get zapped by theforce field and a few bits and pieces after the machine let me go. After Ipassed out, there’s nothing until I woke up a few minutes ago wondering how Igot back here. Selina informed me about those details.”

“Well, lastnight while you and Selina were asleep, Harry, Mary, and I looked in on you andyou were mumbling in a language that I’ve never heard before,” Nathanaelinformed.

“Yes, Iheard it too,” Harry added. “It was the strangest thing I’d ever heard.”

“Really?”Hannibal asked. “I have no memory of it.”

“Well, youdid,” Nathanael answered. “It may very well be the Stone Language but I’m notsure. No one’s heard that language on this planet in thousands of years. Butlet’s not dwell on that right now. We’re just happy that you’re awake and yourmind is still intact. For a while there we thought you were gone from us.”

“I was,”Hannibal said softly. “I saw things while I was asleep that defy description orexplanation, most of which had to do with what happened to me. Unfortunately,most of it is like a dream to me that I can’t seem to remember.”

“Serves youright for not heeding my warning,” Harry said with a hint of irritation.

“You’reright, bud,” Hannibal agreed. “I should have been more careful.”

“You’redamned right,” Harry returned. Then with relief in his voice, he said, “But I’mglad you’re back.” Hannibal looked up at him with a look of appreciation.

“Can youspeak in the Stone Language since you say you’re apparently retaining theinformation about it?” Nathanael queried.

Hannibalspoke a sentence in the Stone Language fluently as if it were his nativetongue. All eyes grew wide as Harry exclaimed, “Yup, that’s just the type oftalk we heard last night coming from you while you were asleep. What did yousay?”

Hannibal chuckled.“What I said was that I was an idiot to step into that machine without knowinghow it operated and got what I deserved,” he declared.

“So youdid,” Harry agreed.

“But nowthat you know how to speak the Stone Language, I suspect you can read it justas well too,” Nathanael stated. “If you hadn’t triggered the machine, youwouldn’t be able to do that. Just knowing the Stone Language as fluently as youobviously now know it is going to be of great help to our research.”

“Indeed,”Hannibal stated. “But I would have rather learned it without having my brainshredded by that thing. I still don’t know what the long term effects are goingto be.”

“Don’tworry about that,” Selina stated. “We’ll deal with any long-term effects whenand if they show up. I’m not going to let you slip through my fingers now thatI have you back.” Her comment elicited a chuckle from everyone present.

“I’m sureyou won’t, princess,” Hannibal agreed.

Just then,Cynthia came into the living room and knelt down in front of Hannibal, lookinghim in the eye while placing her hand on his knee. “We’ve been praying for youand it seems that the Lord has answered,” she said. “We have some dinner readyfor you, if you’re hungry.”

“Thankyou,” Hannibal returned. “I’m starving.” Hannibal tried to get up but was stilltoo weak to move without help. Nathanael and Selina helped him over to thetable where there were places for everyone present. Hannibal sat down at theend of the table with Selina right at his side. Nathanael sat next to him, oppositeof Selina and the others grabbed whatever seat they desired. After a shortprayer, they started eating and Hannibal ate a modest portion. After theyfinished, Mary and Cynthia cleaned off the table while Nathanael, Selina, andHarry took Hannibal back to the healing chamber to remedy his fatigue. Fortyminutes on the table and Hannibal felt much better but remained weak. Theyreturned to his quarters and Hannibal relaxed, entertaining his guests for awhile. Word spread that Hannibal was awake, so people filtered in and outduring the day to check on him. After a couple of hours, Nathanael, Harry,Cynthia, and Mary went back to their usual routines. Dennis went off to thegame room to socialize with his friends. Selina remained with Hannibal to assisthim because he remained weak. The healing machine had remedied some hisfatigue, but not all of it. He still needed help to move around.

Late thatevening around 10:00 pm, Selina helped Hannibal to his bed after he took a bathand dressed in his pajamas: a t-shirt and a pair of gray sweat pants. As shehelped him down the hall to the bedroom, Hannibal said, “I don’t understand whyI’m still so wiped out. The healer should have remedied the fatigue, but itdidn’t.”

“It may bea side-effect of what happened in that teaching machine,” Selina suggested asthey entered the bedroom. “Maybe that thing did something to you that thehealer has completely fixed yet.”

“It’spossible,” Hannibal replied as he saw the bed turned down waiting for him.“Then again, it could be that I was drained so low by the experience that thehealer is just bringing me up by increments so I don’t blow a gasket by beingrecharged too quickly.” He sighed as Selina helped him sit down on the edge ofthe bed. “I feel like I could pull a Rip Van Winkle and sleep a hundred years,”he joked.

“Don’t youeven think that,” Selina answered sternly. “That’ll mess up everything and youknow it. Besides, I can’t wait a hundred years for you to wake up.”

Hannibalpatted her on the cheek gently. “I’m just teasing, Selina,” he said with smile.“It was just a figure of speech. I’m just so tired.”

“I know youare,” Selina replied sweetly, helping him lie down and put his feet up. “Thereyou go. Now just relax and leave everything to me. I know just what you need.”

“What do Ineed?” Hannibal asked in a puzzled tone as Selina stepped back from the bed.

“It’s asurprise,” Selina said with a mischievous glint in her eye. “One that’ll giveyour weary mind and body the rest it needs. Now just wait here. I’ll be rightback.” Selina winked at him and left the room.

“What’sthat minx up to now?” Hannibal murmured. The weariness of the day continued toweigh him down making him so groggy he couldn’t stay awake.

A fewminutes later, Selina returned wearing a tank-top t-shirt and knee-length sweatpants. She stood in the doorway, looking sympathetically at Hannibal as he felldead asleep before her eyes. “Oh Hannibal,” she murmured, walking to the rightside of the bed. “What am I going to do with you? You give so much to everyone,yet refuse to let anyone give back.” Selina sighed as she lay down beside him,cuddling close, wrapping her arms around him. Stroking his hair gently, Selinawhispered, “Well, you’re going to get my help whether you like it or not, myprince. Rest your mind and body and let the past stay buried in the past.” Asoft, velvety purr rumbled out of her as she pulled the blankets up to theirchests. “I love you, Hannibal,” she murmured in his ear.

To hersurprise, Hannibal turned toward her while asleep, throwing his arm over herside and muttered, “I love you too.” He then murmured several words in theStone Language before falling silent again.

Selinatouched her forehead to his before kissing him on the cheek, her heartfluttering. “Sleep, Hannibal, sleep,” she whispered before drifting off tosleep with her purr rumbling softly for Hannibal’s benefit. Several timesduring the night, Hannibal spoke in the Stone Language while asleep,inadvertently waking her.

The nextmorning, Hannibal woke to a strange sight he didn’t expect: Selina sound asleepnext to him with her arms wrapped around him and a soft purr rumbling out ofher chest. “What in heaven’s name?” Hannibal whispered as he saw and smelt her.“Why’s Selina in bed with me?” Glancing at the digital clock on the nightstandnext to the bed, Hannibal saw it reading 8:45 am. He sighed deeply, lookingback at Selina as she slept next to him. His heart fluttered because he couldnot remember anything after Selina helped him into bed the night before. Thethought that they may have done something inappropriate in the night doggedhim. But it didn’t dampen his love for her. It increased it. Hannibal touchedher on the shoulder and gently shook her. “Selina…wake up, Selina,” he saidsoftly.

Selinastirred and pulled her arm off Hannibal as she rolled on her back. She yawneddeeply, allowing Hannibal to see her teeth fully, including her long canines.Hannibal trembled slightly at the sight, realizing how alien she was comparedto him. “Wake up, princess,” he murmured.

Selina’seyes flickered and opened. When her vision settled on Hannibal as he laypropped up on one arm while lying beside her, a warm smile crossed her lips.“Oh my,” she purred. “You sure look better this morning than you did lastnight. Looks like that extra dose of my purr therapy worked. How do you feel?”

“Still justa bit weak, but nothing like yesterday,” Hannibal replied. “But I’m alsopuzzled as to why you slept with me last night. I don’t remember anything afteryou left the room. Why did you crawl in bed with me? We didn’t do somethinginappropriate, did we?”

Selinachuckled warmly. “Oh Hannibal,” she purred. “You’re always so suspicious. Youneedn’t worry. Nothing happened last night except me giving you a stronger doseof my purr therapy. I hope you aren’t upset about that. You really needed itand I can safely say from your complexion this morning that it worked betterthan I hoped. I love you, Hannibal. People who love each other help each otherlike that. You’re not mad, are you?”

Hanniballooked deep into her eyes and saw nothing but the naked truth in her words.“No,” he answered, “but I must insist that you not do that again unless I giveyou permission. It’s dangerous to sleep with me like this because of my violentpast. I knew nothing but war from the time I was fourteen until I was savedalmost twenty-seven years ago. I often have flashbacks of battle in my sleepand will destroy anything within reach when it happens. I don’t want to hurtyou like that. I care too much for you. Plus, it is a bit inappropriate for usto sleep together when we’re not married. I don’t want to send the wrongmessage to everyone.”

“Iunderstand,” Selina stated. “I’ll ask next time and you’re right about itappearing inappropriate. But I think this was a special case. You desperatelyneeded of a stronger dose of my purr therapy and to do that, I needed to be inextremely close proximity to you for a long period of time. Spending the nightwith you in the same bed seemed to be the most logical way to do that. I’msorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.”

Hannibaltook her hand in his and kissed it. “It’s okay now that I understand why youdid it,” he said. “I had no idea you cared so much for me that you’d go to thatlength to help me. But from now on, unless it’s a dire emergency, let’s notshare the same bed. Okay?”

“Okay,”Selina said as she sat up and pushed her hair back. “One day I hope you’ll seeme as more than just a close friend; but as someone you can truly let in as akindred spirit.”

Hannibal stared deep into her eyes. “So do I, Selina,”he agreed. “So do I.”