Nightmares And Dreams

-Ling Ling's Residence-

Luca woke up surprisingly early today. He sat up and began staring at the turned down picture frame on his sister's bedside table. He was sure that there was something he needed to do but couldn't remember it.

He suddenly saw an image of a woman. She is tall, beautiful and somehow... motherly.

*Mom?* He thought, not quite sure.

Just then, he remembered what he was supposed to do. That day he had a dream about his mother -- he was supposed to check the picture! But the only problem here is that he doesn't know where he put the picture.

"Ugh! Why?!" Luca g.r.o.a.n.e.d while being silent at the same time.

Sophie, who had returned again, knew where the picture was. She was a bit skeptical at first, but she decided to tell him where he last placed them, which was inside of the pockets of his uniform which he used two days ago.

*Thanks Sophie!*

^No prob!^

He got up and immediately ran to the laundry room, which where the maids washes their dirty clothes. When he got there, all of the maids stared at them as if he was some sort of wild animal ready to eat them.

"What's the matter, Young Master?" One of the maid asks.

"Um... I'm looking for my uniform that I used two days ago." The young boy replied.

The maid checked the basket filled with clothes two days ago and searched for said uniform. Luckily, the uniform was still there, and so was the picture -- though crumpled and slightly wet. He grabbed the picture and thanked the maids. He left the laundry room and returned to their bedroom while looking at the picture. He flipped the picture and saw a familiar handwritting on the back. The words were slightly blurred, the ink bleeded because of the water, but Luca can still understand the writings.

"A-Amon..." Luca mumbled.

^Amon? Does it mean the real Amon? The City of Amon?^ Sophie uttered in shock.

*I don't know this Amon thing. Maybe I should ask my sister?*

^I don't think it's a good idea...^

Just then, the boy bumped into someone. "Sorry..." he apologizes.

"Luca... I told you not to touch my items." A girl's voice says. Luca looked up and saw his sister, Viviene.

*I'm dead!*

Viviene looked at Luca fiercely as if she was a lion, ready to eat the poor rabbit, Luca. "Come to my room." She ordered. Her eyes are scary, scarier and more protruding.

"O-O-O-Okay!" Luca stammered. He followed Viviene back to their room slowly.

At their bedroom, Viviene stood straight, facing the window, with Luca, trembling in fear, also standing up behind her.

"Why?" Viviene slowly muttered.

"Why....?" Luca followed, waiting for his sister to finish her sentence.

"Why... did you took the photo?" The girl finally finished.

"It's because of..." Luca begins with a slight feel of doubt within him.

"Because of?!" Viviene shouts.

"B-B-Because o-of a d-dream." Luca stammered again as he lowers his head.

"Dream?" Viviene wonders as she turned around and walks closer to Luca. She grabbed his shoulders with her hands and applied pressure. "What dream?" She asked scarily.

"A dream about Mom..." Luca answered.

"Keep going..." Viviene said.

"Uhm... Mom said in my dream, if I remembered the family picture we took before the incident, and that I should look a little closer at it."

Viviene looked shocked at her brother's words. Maybe, the picture was a clue as to what actually happend that night. She vigorously snatched the picture from Luca's trembling hands and flipped it.

"A-Amon..." The girl read. "What is this?" She added.

"I don't know. Should we ask Sophie or Robin?" Luca suggests.

"Both are not available at the moment. They have to go back to do tasks, plus, we can't ask them anything except things that are only needed to disclose." Viviene informs her twin.

"Um... I know! Dad has businesses inside and outside the borders, maybe he knows this Amon thingy." Luca suggests again.

Viviene didn't respond for a moment. A few minutes passed, the maids called them for breakfast. Viviene, then asks the maid if their father will be present at the breakfast table.

Unfortunately, Francis has not come home since last night, but the maid informed them that he will be present at dinner. The twins nodded at the maid and followed her downstairs to have breakfast.

While having breakfast, someone familiar entered the dining area. Viviene stood up to greet the visitors.

"Oh, Mr. Lang Lang and... Clyde? May I ask what brings you here?" Viviene politely greeted.

"My, my, the heiress of the Ling Ling's are definitely bold. Greeting us looking like that? But, I must say so myself, you look stunning." Clyde remarks.

*'Looking like that'? What does he mean by... (looks at her clothes) Ahhh... I see... certainly perverted. Did I know they will come? No. Not my fault.* Viviene thought. She was still wearing her pink jammies, but she was feeling lazy to go up and change so she just left her clothes as is.

"Come and join us for breakfast." Luca invites.

Both Clyde's father, Crude, and Clyde sat down in front of the twins. Viviene begins to open up a few topics. "I heard the marriage of Clyde and I will continue." She started.

"Why, yes. It will. Any objections on your part?" Crude asks.

"No, but I shall ask you one thing."

"What is it?"

"Your son needs to take 'Ling Ling' as his surname."

"Very well, Milady."

Viviene shuts up and finishes her food. After eating, she invited the guests to wait for the both of them at the living room while they fix themselves. The two agreed and patiently waited.

After a while, the twins was done fixing up themselves. Viviene wore a flowy under-the-knee length floral red dress and Luca wore a t-shirt with a black suit jacket and black pants.

"As expected from the Ling Ling twins. I'm surprised you've concealed yourself from the whole school." Clyde confidently said as he stood up and kisses Viviene's hand, which was slapped almost immediately by Luca.

"You can't touch my sister." Luca warned.

"What an attitude~" Clyde reacts, smirking.

Viviene butts in and shuts both of them up. She told them to sit down on the couch and talk about the marriage. She also asked a maid to prepare tea for the four of them, which the maid quickly replied, "Yes, Young lady".

"When is this marriage? Where is it taking place?" Viviene asks.

"Be patient Little one, both of you should take your time." Crude replied.

Viviene started being a little cold to Crude.

"Don't call me 'Little one'. I would like you to call me 'Young heiress' or 'Miss Ling Ling'."

"Certainly." Crude said.

*Oh my, how cold~* Clyde thought.

"I shall show you around our garden just so we can do something else, other than sit and talk. Do you mind it?" Luca invites them.

"Not at all, but Father and Miss Ling Ling has things to discuss, so they'll stay here in the meantime."

"Very well. Follow me, Clyde."

At the garden, the two walks silently. Luca wonders about Clyde. He is mysterious according Rebecca. He was seen by her, talking to some strange object that can't be seen, so might know something about Amon. Luca felt like he needed to ask Clyde about the Amon, even if his sister will kill him.

"Clyde," Luca begins, "Do you know what is an Amon?"

Clyde stopped, causing Luca to stop too. "Why?"

"Just answer the question."

"Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't know what an Amon is."

*Liar.* Luca thought.

*I don't think you are stupid enough to go outside the borders even if I tell you.* Clyde thought.

"Is that so? Okay then." Luca just said.

Silence. Silence was there again, until Viviene calls both of them.

It was about... noon time now, and the two guests are ready to leave. The maids escorted them outside and everything was peaceful again. The twins sat down on the couch while sipping fresh hot tea.

"How's your talk with Clyde?" Viviene inquires.

"I asked him about this Amon."

"Oh? How did it go?"

"He said he didn't know, but I feel like he lied."

"Interesting~"

"Vivi, don't you dare fall inlove with that guy. I know he helped you with your shopping once and he took care of you when you're sick a few weeks ago, you even got fl.u.s.tered.

Lots of things happened between you two, but please, DO. NOT. FALL. IN. LOVE. WITH. HIM." Luca strictly warns.

"Don't be so assuming. I was pretending to be fl.u.s.tered, so I could know what he's up to."

Luca raised his eyebrow. "Our Vivi is such a deceiver."

The two chatted more about the marriage as time passes. Before the twins knew it, it was nearly dinner time. About six o'clock in the evening. The maids were busy preparing the foods for dinner, which made the twins want to help them. Occasionally, whenever their father isn't home, they persuade maids to teach them household chores.

"Young Master, Young Mistress, the dinner is already cooked. Please go to the dining room." A maid informs them.

The twins did not respond, but they did follow their maid's words. Both sat down on their designated seats and started eating. A little later, Francis came in, home from a business trip. He sat down on his seat and also started eating. The whole dinner was silent. All you can hear is the clanking from spoons and forks hitting the ceramic plates.

Viviene asked their father a question just to break the silence. "Father, do you know what the Amon is?" She asked.

Luca stared at him, also waiting for a response. Francis froze. He stopped eating for a moment, looked at the twins and then continued eating.

"N-No... I don't know what this Amon is." Francis finally replies.

"I see..." Viviene reacts, nodding her head.

After the conversation, the dinner continued silently.

-End of Chapter 20-