Long Chapter Ahead...

The first few weeks of training were intense. 

The days were a mixture of self-defence training, mixed martial arts, meditation, conditioning, and strength training. Hera was exhausted after each session, but Ivy, an Evolved healer, would come and heal her completely every evening. She was the loveliest person Hera had ever met. 

Ivy talked to her through the entire process and asked her questions about her life. She seemed genuinely interested and eased some of Hera's anxiety after each session. She would take pictures to monitor Hera's physical growth for her file and would make her laugh throughout the awkward process. Hera didn't need to look at the photos. She could already see profound changes in her physique. It was mostly her coordination and confidence that had a long way to go. 

On the second day, she requested an audience with the Director, demanding him bring her aunt to the Community. He had let her know they had gone looking for her after their first meeting. "I'm sorry, but there was no sign of her. Based on our thermal scans, the house was empty."

 Hera had cried that night, scared for her aunt and afraid she was all alone in the world.

On the fifth day, the nightmares started. 

Hera woke drenched in sweat with a concerned Theo standing over her. He had needed to calm her again before she took the entire building down around them. The Director told everyone it was a minor earthquake, but the whispers and scathing looks showed their suspicions. 

The Director had decided it would be safer for Theo to stay in Hera's room while learning control over her powers. She flushed with embarrassment at the implications of having to share a room with her young mentor. Hera worried the arrangement would go on forever, as no one had talked about her powers or helped her control. 

She didn't think anyone knew what to do with her.

Each night she woke up panting, her body coated in sweat or tears. On this particular night, she looked up to see Theo sitting next to her on the bed. His palm cradled his head, eyes closed. The other hand rested on her shin. She felt so guilty for making him babysit her around the clock. 

She couldn't stop herself from thinking, I'm sorry, as she stared at him with sleepy eyes. He lifted his head and stared down at her, their eyes locking for a long time. Hera started to heat up under his gaze. What are you thinking? Theo looked away, taking his hand with him. 

Coldness gripped her; the wet sheets and absence of Theo were chilling. She got up and decided to change her clothes and sheets. Hera had trouble locating her bed again in the dark and tripped on a pile of clothes at the end of it. 

"Fuck. Ouch!" She cursed her clumsiness, bringing her hands down to her bruised knees. Hera's eyes burned as tears welled across her waterline. 

She leaned against the bed to survey the damage as Theo sat next to her. "Can I take a look?"

Hera couldn't see his expression in the dark, but his voice was gentle, and she imagined him with a pitying look. She nodded. Theo gently probed her knees, and to her relief, there was no blood, but they would be bruised. Theo's hands froze when he heard Hera sniffle. "Are you crying?" 

She turned away from him, embarrassed. "No..." She sniffed again, wiping the tears with her sleeve.

"Of all the things to cry about..." He started but quickly stopped when a sob shook Hera's frame. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound like an asshole. It's just, you've been through so much this week, and I never once saw you upset like this." A full-body cry took over. Hera tried to speak but only managed to hiccup and gasp for air.

Theo, for once, didn't know what to do. He moved in front of her and lifted her chin to meet his eyes. He stared at her a moment, lost. "Tell me in here." He pointed to his head. Hera's eyes widened in recognition. 

She stared at his eyes for a while, hiccuping and thought, I feel so alone. I don't know what or who I am, and the only life I ever knew is gone. Now I have these nightmares showing me glimpses of a life I can't even remember living. I just... I feel so lonely, Theo... Hera finished the thought and rested her head on her aching knees. 

Theo sat back and stared at the hiccuping woman for a while in silence. He knew she didn't want him to fix things for her, so he just stayed a quiet presence. After only a few minutes,  he noticed her breathing deepen and become even. His feelings softened for her when he realised she had fallen asleep. Theo quietly changed her sheets and scooped her up into his arms. 

He had the urge to hold her for a while but ignored it, tucking her into the duvet and putting himself to bed on the floor beside her.

...

In the next week, training continued, but Theo took her to some of the Evolved history classes. "Maybe this will let you know a little bit about who you are. Or at least where you come from. I'll meet you outside when class is finished for lunch." Hera felt giddy listening to the teacher share her history, even though she was learning it with a dozen small children.

She learned, a few hundred years ago, it was recorded, one thousand women had given birth to the first Evolved humans. No one knew why yet. Many appeared normal and only started displaying abilities during puberty. It took a lot longer to notice them in society without modern technology, so many lived whole lives unknown by the scientific Community. Some ended up joining the circus, labelled freaks, while others lived off the grid; suspected witches. 

Panacea formed fifty years after the first Evolved babies were born. Initially, scientists would experiment on the Evolved, discovering what made them different. Over time, greed and power-seeking led them to find out how to turn their abilities into weapons and body modifications. Today, many people have Evolved ancestors, but their human genetics weakened their abilities measurably. Those who had multiple Evolved ancestors were more powerful. 

 Houses of Evolved, like the Community, were formed by some of the most powerful Evolved. They saved many kin from Panacea and hid away, turning into a myth to society. The Director descended from two original Evolved and was a powerful telekinetic. His wife, killed under unknown circumstances, had also been an original descendant.  

The teacher seemed amazed by him and equally sad about his past. Hera had never seen him do anything particularly remarkable, though. He seemed pretty private. 

Hera felt pleased after learning about their history. Her history. Finally, she felt a sense of belonging and an understanding of herself. It reinforced to her that she wasn't crazy, and in actuality, she belonged there with people like her. Theo told her that was the first step in controlling her powers. Acceptance.

They walked together to the mess hall for lunch. Hera had a smile on her face for the first time in weeks. "Did you learn all of that stuff when you were kids?" she asked Theo.

"Yeah, we were pretty young when we got here..." His voice trailed off. "Can you hear that?" Theo's eyes had a dreamy look as he wandered away from the mess hall. 

"Hey! It's lunchtime... Theo. I'm hungry! Where are you going?" She stomped after him. After a few minutes, she realised she could hear something too. 

It sounded like singing. 

Beautiful and inviting, but not drool-worthy like Theo was making out. They came across a door that read, Green Room, and inside was none other than Jean, surrounded by over a dozen star-struck Evolved. They all shared a similar dopey expression as they stared lovingly into Jean's eyes while she 'siren seduced' them. 

 "Oh, for god's sake," Hera muttered under her breath. Jean smirked when she saw them and belted even louder. A few of the admirers at the front became frantic, clawing to get onto the stage Jean was strutting on. 

"Tsk, tsk, calm down pets. Plenty of me to go around." 

Theo was sweating from his brow and looked like he was trying to glue himself to the spot. He involuntarily shifted closer to the stage while Hera looked on, frozen for another reason.

"Theo, come on. It's not even that good!" Hera grabbed his hand and noticed he was shaking. "Stop Theo. She's in your head...." His body shuddered and kept pulling away from her. "Stop walking, Theo." Finally, her hangry attitude began to take over. 

STOP 

She instructed forcefully in his head. Theo's body froze, and Hera marched in front of him. Their eyes locked on one another. "Finally..." she muttered. But when his eyes drifted to a more confused sounding Jean, she was forced to grab his cheeks between her hands. "Hey, can you focus, please? You said you would take me to get lunch... " She willed him to listen, to stop acting like a love-drunk idiot. 

She felt a tug inside her. 

It felt like a little piece of her soul, or maybe not hers, reaching out to Theo and embracing him. Suddenly it was like the safe bubble around Hera had grown and joined with Theo. Then like a taut rubber band, he snapped. "Fucking hell Jean!" Theo roared. "Cut that out now!" 

Hera's eyes widened, her hand's still smooshing Theos' reddening cheeks. She pulled them away as Jeans' songs ceased, and her safe bubble popped.

"I was singing, no big deal Theo. Why are you so mad?" Jean pouted. Theo's jaw clenched, and he stayed silent. " Alright, everyone, get out now..." She sulked.

"What were you even trying to do, huh? You can't handle the attention not being on you for once, can you, Jean." Theo was furious. Even Hera felt bad for her.

"That's not fair. All you do these days is babysit her." She pointed a sharp nail towards Hera. "We used to hang out all the time. Maybe... I just wanted to prove that she isn't worth all the fuss you and the Director keep making about her..."

"We'll talk about this later, Jean." He said, grabbing Hera's hand and walking out the door for a much-deserved lunch. Hera didn't miss the shattered look on Jean's face or the tears welling in the sirens' eyes as she was whisked out the door.

...

They walked silently for a while, Hera's hand still clutched in Theo's slightly trembling ones.

"Are you okay...?" Hera questioned; her voice shook slightly, and her palms began to sweat. She had never seen him so angry. Then, finally, he stopped dead in the middle of the empty hallway. 

"Do you know what she was trying to do?" Theo ground out. "She was trying to draw you close with her ability to control you, and who knows what could've happened. She could have made you lose control. She could've made you hurt people, and I couldn't stop it because I wasn't in control either. I failed you, and I might have well have failed everyone." Theo finished, breathing raggedly.

Hera frowned. "But nothing happened to me, though. I didn't feel controlled or anything. I'm okay for once. I think I'm getting better at this control thing, actually..." Hera rambled on. She felt proud of the way she handled herself against Jean. Coming face to face with her 'siren' powers and not breaking a sweat had to earn her some credit. She couldn't help but throw a little bit of salt on the wound. "You know, you should have more faith in me, Theo.... Or are you mad because you feel embarrassed about being bested by Jean? "

Theo looked momentarily shocked before smirking. "You're gonna pay for that one."

Hera's mouth dropped open playfully. "Hey! I'm just saying you are so wound up over nothing. I'm fine, you're fine, everybody is okay! I just have an attitude because you haven't fed me yet, so can we go?"

"No, no, no. I'm gonna remember this." His grin sent shivers down her spine. "When you least expect it..."

"Well, I'll just poof you into dust then." Hera retorted, marching off towards the mess hall.

She heard a low grumble behind her, "I can't believe you threatened to kill me. Make that two punishments." She turned fearfully only to see him suppressing a smile.

Hera smiled to herself. She was glad she could turn his mood around so quickly and make him realise he was being dramatic. She met his eyes. "Look, I know you are worried about my abilities and how that could've gone bad, but maybe you should spend some more time with Jean. You two seemed close, and I don't want to get in the way of your relationship or anything. So please don't be mad at her because of me."

He sighed and shook his head, "Alright, I'll go talk to her later and make it up to her, okay?"

Hera nodded, smiling slightly. "What's the deal with the siren powers anyway? How come I could ignore it, but you couldn't?"

He seemed to consider how much to share with her before speaking slowly. "I don't know about you, but growing up, we trained by testing each other's abilities. I have always been able to resist her but, I don't know, this time. I couldn't. She must've been using all of her energy to mess with you."

"But nothing happened., Hera remarked, feeling more confused than before.

"No, nothing happened to you." He nodded, gazing into her eyes. "But you did do something. To me..."

She nodded, turning to walk towards the direction of lunch again. "Yeah, it felt like I was in a bubble, and then... I wanted you to be in it too. I wanted you to be safe..."

 Hera suddenly felt embarrassed by the comment that slipped out. She could imagine a satisfied smirk on his face, but when she tilted her head to peek at him, he looked almost touched.

"Sounds like another mystery to uncover about you..."