(Amaia)

It’s a leather-bound black diary. They thrust it in Alnilam’s hands and retreat under his bandana, disappearing as if they were never there.

"Is that?" I ask, thrilled and bewildered at the same time.

"It seems like it." Alnilam takes a step forward and sits on the edge of the bed. I join him.

His fingertips graze against the soft leather where a black rose has been carved. It’s very similar to the wooden one Mintaka had gifted me from their toy room.

"This has imbued magic in it, I can feel it heaving under my skin." Alnilam slides his fingers to the sides of the diary. The edges of the paper are faintly glowing with a blue hue, forming patterns that resemble symbols on the fore edges of the diary.

"What are they?" I trace my finger on them, intrigued.

"Some kind of code I think to keep the contents of the diary secured." Alnilam tries to open it but it remains closed. The patterns continue to shift. They keep glowing and get brighter with each passing second.

"We need to crack the code to open it. Maybe we have to be worthy," I take a wild guess, placing my index finger on the symbols.

Instantly, they shift, rearrange creating the symbol of a brain. The thin tendrils extend from the edges and wrap around my index finger. A female voice rings in my head.

"I will reveal my contents if you share your memories with me. Your memories will reveal the kind of person you are. You can’t filter them."

Surprised, I stare at Alnilam with wide eyes. A crease descends on his forehead.

"What happened?"

"The diary wants access to my memories to determine if we are worthy enough to see its contents." I don’t withdraw my finger and at the same time wait for Alnilam’s instructions.

He also places his finger on the fluorescent brain symbol. A surprise flashes across his face.

"I hear the voice too. Let’s do it together."

We nod at each other, close our eyes, relax our bodies and minds, giving access.

Something cold invades my brain, like a breeze going through. It sweeps through my memories which play like reels in front of my eyes.

My memories play in front of me.

My birth—the first cries.

My mother’s kind face.

My life with Aziel.

The attack by the Dread Army.

My life after.

The betrayal by Tarian.

Getting cursed by Huradis.

My arrival at Orion.

My meeting with Rigel...moments spent with him.

And many many others.

The feelings intensify, it’s invasive and then it just stops and totally disappears. Whatever spell the diary had been imbued with has taken effect. I am sure the roller coaster of memories I have just experienced are the ones the diary will take into consideration. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

My eyes open and I focus then on Alnilam.

He sits still, staring ahead. Rivers of pain flow on his face, his violet eyes swirl with deep, painful emotions.

What did he see?

A repressed memory from childhood?

Time spent with Jamina?

"Alnilam!" I softly call him out, trying to divert his mind and pull him out of the memory he is stuck in.

He doesn’t respond, just keeps staring. His hands come to hold his face in frustration, hiding it from me.

Something is definitely wrong.

My arms go around his broad but hunched shoulders. I pull him into myself. The bond between us is alive with his desolation and angst. So much angst.

I place my hand on his heart, trying to ease whatever pain he is experiencing.

"Talk to me, please," I painfully request. Alnilam tilts his head, letting it drop on my shoulder.

His body spasms, his hair let loose, wrapping around both of us creating a comforting assurance. They can sense his grief, that overwhelming feeling that is drowning him. His arms shackle my waist as if he is afraid of letting me go.

We sit there in silence. I let him grieve whatever he has witnessed.

Finally, he lifts his head. His haunted eyes hold shadows of the past, the ones I am not familiar with.

"Amaia! We have to get to the bottom of this fast. I can’t pretend any longer. I am done," his voice is laced with so much anguish that it spikes my heart.

I grab his face in my hands. "We will. Whatever and whoever has disturbed your peace, we will get even with them too."

He nods but his facial features don’t ease. Whatever has hurt him runs deep, too deep.

"Let’s see if the diary has opened." Alnilam glances down towards the diary and to our surprise it lies open in my lap. The rust-stained pages are scribbled in a stylish handwriting.

Letting go of Alnilam’s face, I grab the diary. The leather is smooth against my skin. It’s open in the middle. I read.

’Entry 47:

Today, I have thought of the names for my twins. I have this feeling they are both boys. Rigel and Saiph are the two bright stars in the Constellation of Orion. I can’t wait to meet and hold them in my arms.’

The shock of these words slowly creep on me until I find myself reeling and shaking. The diary slips from my fingers only to be captured by Alnilam in his safe hands.

"What did I just read? Does this mean?" My horror-struck eyes waver towards Alnilam and he is still in a state of shock.

"I don’t know. Seriously, I don’t even know what to believe, what to think and whom to trust anymore."

Frantically, he turns a few pages and stops on one.

’Entry 51

I lost my baby boy, my Saiph. He was stillborn.... something has shattered inside me. I can’t forget his blue face and lifeless body. My baby is gone. My firstborn is gone, leaving me broken.’

We read in disbelief. She lost Saiph? Then how is Saiph alive? Or is my Saiph not her son or was he replaced during the childbirth? Could it be that Saiph was named after Rigel’s twin, to safeguard his memory?

So many questions arise in our minds. We pass glances of disbelief but we need to read more to understand and get to the bottom of the truth.