Chapter 11: Reflections of the Unknown

  Cassian closed the door to the bathroom with a soft click, the old wood groaning slightly under the pressure. The room was small, the tiles chipped, and the faucet dripped with an irregular rhythm. Yet, none of that caught his attention as his gaze was immediately drawn to the foggy mirror above the sink.

  He reached out, wiping a hand across the glass to clear the condensation.

  And froze.

  The face staring back at him was almost unrecognizable.

  His first instinct was to step back, his chest tightening with disbelief. Slowly, he leaned forward, his palms bracing against the edge of the sink as his eyes scanned his reflection.

  Sky’s words from earlier replayed in his mind. "You look like the depiction of an angel."

  It wasn’t far from the truth. His once dull and pallid complexion was now luminous, his skin smooth and almost ethereal, as if carved from jade. The hazel of his eyes, which had always been a murky mix of colors, now seemed to shimmer with clarity—like a living mosaic of blue, gray, and green that shifted depending on the light.

  His lips parted as he ran a hand down his jawline, feeling the smoothness of his skin. His fingers brushed over the faint ridge of a scar on his neck, a mark he’d carried for years, and he realized it, too, seemed less prominent.

  His gaze dropped to his body, and his breath hitched.

  The gaunt, malnourished frame he had grown accustomed to seeing was gone. In its place was a body that looked stronger, defined. His shoulders were broader, his chest and arms more toned, and faint lines of abs traced his stomach. It wasn’t overly muscular, but it was far from weak—a stark contrast to the way he’d looked just a day ago.

  “This is me? What? ” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

  He leaned closer to the mirror, studying every detail, searching for some sign of the man he’d been before. But the longer he stared, the more he felt like he was looking at a stranger.

  “It’s like I have completely changed,” he muttered, running a hand through his damp hair. His hazel eyes narrowed slightly. “Damn.”

  The energy within him pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat just beneath his skin. It wasn’t intrusive, but it was there—a constant reminder of the otherworldly presence he had awakened.

  Cassian straightened, pulling away from the mirror. His reflection was mesmerizing, almost enchanting, but it only deepened the questions swirling in his mind. What was happening to him? And why now?

  He turned to the shower, twisting the knob until the water cascaded down in a steady stream. The warmth was a welcome distraction as he stepped under it, letting the water wash over him.

  As he scrubbed away the grime of the previous day, his thoughts raced. Whatever this transformation was, it wasn’t normal. It wasn’t human.

  He couldn’t shake the memory of the dreamlike realm—the crystalline trees, the golden mist, the voice that spoke to him. The energy he now carried felt tied to that place, as if it had tethered itself to him permanently.

  Cassian clenched his fists, the water dripping from his knuckles. He wasn’t sure if this change was a blessing or a curse, but he couldn’t deny its reality. His body had become stronger, more resilient. He felt... alive, in a way he hadn’t in years.

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  But with this new strength came an even greater fear.

  If someone like Sky could notice the change, how long would it take for others to? For Raiden Nightshade? For the authorities chasing him?

  The thought made his stomach twist.

  Cassian shut off the water and grabbed a towel, drying off quickly before slipping into the oversized clothes he had taken from Sky’s parents’ room. The shirt hung loosely on his frame, and the pants were a bit too long, but they would do for now.

  He caught his reflection in the mirror .

  This was his new reality.

  Whatever this energy was, whatever changes it brought—he would have to adapt. And he would have to stay ahead of those hunting him.

  Because now, more than ever, he couldn’t afford to be caught one last time before stepping out of the bathroom.

  Cassian paused in the doorway of the bathroom, his mind briefly lost in the reflection of the person he’d become. A stranger—yet not. The mirror had shown him something new, but Sky’s hesitant gaze brought him back to the present.

  Sky stood by, eyes wide and uncertain, his little fingers clutching at the hem of his shirt. His lips trembled slightly as if he wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words. He looked so vulnerable in that moment, so small against the world, and yet there was something about his presence that made Cassian feel... lighter. Not much, but just enough for it to matter.

  "What happened, Sky?" Cassian asked, his voice a little rough, but the warmth of his tone was enough to ease some of the boy's hesitation. "What’s with the look?"

  Sky looked up at him, his expression mixed with uncertainty and something else—something like hope, but it quickly shifted into a knot of worry. "Brother... I... I want to take a bath too," Sky murmured, his voice quieter now. "But... I don’t know how to... I... I don’t know what to do... It was Mama or Dada who used to do it for me... I tried before myself, but... the soap... it went in my mouth and it tasted so bad." His lips curled into a small frown at the memory, his eyes glistening with the pain of that failed attempt.

  Cassian’s heart clenched as the words settled in. There was a rawness to them that pierced through his well-guarded shell, the vulnerability of a child that reached deep within him. He felt a sting at the back of his throat, but he swallowed it down, keeping his composure.

  He cleared his throat, taking a slow step toward Sky, trying to push past the strange knot of emotions tightening his chest. "It’s okay, Sky," he said, his voice gentler now, despite the inner turmoil he tried so hard to control. "I’ll help you."

  Sky looked at him uncertainly, as if still unsure whether to trust those words. He hesitated, his small hands fidgeting with the fabric of his shirt as if bracing for something. "But... you said not to touch you," he said, his voice breaking with the weight of a promise he didn’t want to break. "I made a promise... you don’t like being touched... I can understand..."

  The rawness of those words stung, more than anything Cassian had expected. He didn’t want to remember that part of himself—that part of him that recoiled from touch, from the very idea of being close. The trauma, the scars... it all just left him cold, locked away in a cage of his own making.

  But Sky’s simple request, his innocent need... it was enough to shake the wall Cassian had so carefully constructed.

  Cassian sighed, the exhaustion of the past few days pressing in on him like a weight he could never fully lift. He felt the tug of Sky’s gaze on him, saw the boy’s uncertainty, and something inside him shifted.

  "It’s... different with you, Sky," he said quietly, the words tentative, unsure. "I can’t explain it really explain why?,.......... So, if you need help, I’ll be here. No promises about everything, but... I can help you with this."

  Sky blinked, as if he didn’t fully understand, but Cassian saw the relief in his eyes. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

  "Okay..." Sky whispered, his voice small but filled with an unspoken trust. "Thank you, brother."

  Cassian stood there for a moment, unsure of the words that followed, unsure of how to navigate this uncharted territory of care and tenderness. He hadn’t let anyone in for so long, but somehow, this boy... this child, had managed to slip through his defenses without him even realizing it.

  With a deep breath, Cassian moved toward the small washroom, his movements purposeful despite the chaotic storm swirling inside. Sky followed him quietly, his bare feet padding against the floor.

  When they reached the bathroom, Cassian stopped by the tub, turning to look down at Sky, who had already begun to undo the buttons on his shirt with a focused determination. The boy’s innocence was disarming, and for a moment, Cassian’s chest tightened at the sight. He wondered if Sky had ever been taught how to care for himself like this—so young, so fragile, yet so resilient in his own way.

  Cassian bent down slightly to meet Sky’s eyes, giving him a soft smile. "Let’s get this right this time, okay?"

  Sky nodded, a tiny smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Okay."

  Cassian turned the knobs of the faucet, adjusting the water’s temperature as it began to fill the tub. The sound of the rushing water filled the room, a steady and soothing rhythm that calmed the nerves creeping up Cassian’s spine. He stood beside Sky as the boy awkwardly began to remove his pants, still unsure of how to do things the way his mother or father had.

  Cassian sighed, realizing that, for the first time in a long time, he didn’t feel completely lost in this moment. He could do this. Not perfectly, not without some hesitation, but he could help this boy.

  He reached for a bar of soap and began to lather it, turning back to Sky. "Ready?"

  Sky looked up, his face brightening just a little. "Yeah," he whispered.

  As Cassian gently helped him into the warm water, he felt something stir deep inside him, something foreign yet comforting. Perhaps it was the connection they had, a bond that neither of them fully understood yet, but in that small moment, as the steam rose from the bath and Sky settled into the water with a content sigh, Cassian realized something: maybe, alone wasn't the only way.

  'Strange, i don't really hate this' The weight of past in his chest seemed to be lighter.