Chapter Twenty-One: A Reunion From the Shadows

Alice:

Sy's head rested on my lap, the television's images flashed on the screen. Not really paying attention, my thoughts drifted to how I would inherit my father's powers. Would it devour my soul? The image of my parents burning in fire haunted me, tears welled up in my eyes. Even if they hurt me, I loved them with all of my heart. Why did I love them? My fucking father put a gun to my head, and I couldn't even yell at him then. The memory of my neighbor dying haunted me, everything hitting me at once. Squirming out from underneath his head, my feet stumbled into the bedroom. Sliding down the wall, I buried my face into my palms. I had lost so much to get to this point, the tears flowed freely. Why did I have to kill all of those people? Laying on my back, inky blood painted my fingers as I held them up in the air. My arms landed by my side, the shadow children cuddled up to me.

"Are you okay?" They asked sweetly, their tiny hands wiping away my tears. "You look like our master used to before you married him. He would even lay in that same spot, not moving for days." Embracing them warmly in my arms, they all pecked me on the cheek. Ruffling the top of their heads, their heads snuggled into my palms. Why couldn't they see the monster I was? Truthfully, those poor demons shouldn't have been put in that situation. Their frightened aura was the last thing I felt before they all died, silent screams still lay trapped in their throats.

"I am just a little sad, that is all." I sobbed softly, not wanting to traumatize them. "How about you go get me some iced tea?" They skipped out, a book crashed onto my head as I stood up. Feeling the wall, a small door creaked open. Reaching in, my fingers wrapped around a framed photo of my grandmother and I. She wasn't alive for long, but her visits were the highlights of my life. She would cook and clean for me, our ice cream dates had always tasted twice as sweet. The worst part was going home back to them, my fingers traced the tight curls around her face. Her copper eyes sparkled with adventure, my three year old self cupped her hands. The light blue summer dress floated off of my tiny body, a single scoop of strawberry ice cream rested on the top of a cone. That was the last day I saw her alive, my mother had murdered her the next day to get her fortune. Hugging it to my chest, the cops wouldn't believe me but I had witnessed it all. Today was the anniversary of her death, my teardrops slid down the glass in front of the picture. A knock interrupted me, Sy wandered in with the iced tea. Plopping down next to me, he glanced over at the photo.

"Do you think the world enjoys breaking me over and over again?" I asked dejectedly, my sobs only getting worse. "I need to go to my grandmother's grave and talk to her. She was my hero. Do you mind taking me? I don't want to go alone this year." Passing me the tea, he made sure I drank a sip. Resting his wrists on his knees, he squirmed closer to me. His legs pressed against mine, a sympathetic smile warmed my heart. If only he knew what I knew. Such dark secrets should be kept in the shadows yet he always made me want to bring them to the light.

"Do you want to talk about it?" He questioned calmly, noticing my anxiety ridden face. "It's okay. You can talk about it anytime." Guilt gnawed at me, my faceless mother hovered over me. Her hair fell over her face, her bloody hands cupped my cheeks. Staring straight ahead, Sy's pleas fell on deaf ears. Rotting flesh nauseated me, her blank face hovered inches from mine. This wasn't her but a puppet of her. Regardless, who sent her?

"It was your fault! You didn't do a damn thing." She teased cruelly, her fingernails dug into my face. "You murdered all of those demons without regret. You are a murderer. Murderer. Murderer. Murderer." Tearing out chunks of my cheeks, silent tears flooded from my quivering eyes. Other voices joined her in chanting murderer, my hands cupping my ears. Tortured screams entered the chaos, a stream of blood poured from my ears. What fresh hell is this!

"Leave me alone. I didn't do it!" I shouted desperately, the ice tea crashing to the floor. "Leave me alone! I am not a murderer! I am not a murderer!" Sy clutched me close to my chest, my sadness soaked his shirt. My reflection horrified me, the blood was still all over my face. Burying my face into his chest, my heart was beating a mile a minute. Rocking me back and forth, the blood wouldn't get off of my face.

"It's okay." He whispered softly, stroking my hair. "No one said you were one." Disbelief dimmed my eyes, the fact that he couldn't see the blood on my face told me that it was all a hallucination. My mother twitched oddly in the corner, my body trembling. Was she a hallucination or her angry spirit? Lifting up my chin with his finger, horror widened my eyes as the blood coated his thumb with each trace of my cheek. For the first time in a while, this was becoming too much.

"I have to go." I blurted out awkwardly, her hollowed footsteps chased me outside. The cool air lashed at my cheeks, an orange gem rolled to my feet. Picking it up, our home faded back to my childhood home. My grandmother marched towards the front door with a determined expression, a tiny squeak was the only thing that could escape my lips. Sprinting up to her, my trembling arms curled around hers. Devastation shattered my expression, her arms simply going through mine. Clammy sweat drenched my skin, Sy popped up behind me. Shaking my head, he guided me to the window. Peeking in, my head bowed in shame. Terror rounded his eyes, ruby blood painted the windows. Three year old me fell from the corner, long wails leaving her lips. Sy buried my head into his shoulders, my mother beginning to scream at me to clean up the blood all over the walls. Wincing in preparations for the next part, the sounds of her fists smashing into her tortured me. Shame dimmed my eyes, my fingers gripped his shirt. Why couldn't I fight back? Why couldn't I save my grandmother?

"Holy shit." He uttered in disbelief, broken by what he saw. "How do you still smile every day?" Blue and red lights illuminated the street, the scene fast forwarding through the police officers not believing my claims at all. Peeking back at the scene, a black body bag rolled into an ambulance. My eyes fell back on the horrific aftermath set to begin, her mother wrapping her hands around her neck. Banging my head against the wall, fresh blood poured down the wall. The poor girl not standing a chance if that kept up, her tiny hands dangled limply by her side. The strangled gasps for air echoed in my ear, my fingers tracing the scar around my neck.

"Get me a drink, you filthy brat." She slurred , dropping the pulled together act. "I said now." Her body collapsed into a heap of bones and skin, the poor girl scurrying to the kitchen to fill up her cup. Not moving fast enough, my mother crept behind her. The counter cracked with each slam of her head, the wine spilling across the counter. Her tiny fists punched her in the forehead, our mother falling back. Her bare feet crashed out of the home, blood soaked her forehead while more of it matted the back of her head. Crashing into the forest, Sy threw me onto his back. Following her, her rags of a summer dress floated to the surface with each step into the water. A black fox sprinted past us, their eyes meeting. Curiosity glistened in my eyes, Sy's grip strengthening at the sight of his guardian.

"What do you want?" She demanded hotly, motioning for the fox to go away. "I don't need anyone in my life. Everyone just wants to hurt me." The fox refused to listen, childlike wonder brightened her eyes at the sight of the fox walking on top of the water. Smiling warmly to myself, my tears matched hers. There was a warmth to that memory, his guardian had been the only thing to convince me not to drown myself that night. It was at that point that she had wished to live for someone other than her mother, a new determination shimmered in her eyes.

"Why do you cry, child?" Sly inquired curiously, laying down in front of her. "You are too young to be stressed. I came to tell you to stick it out. You have a bright future coming your way. If it helps you, I believe you. You are innocent." Her hand reached out to pet him, the reprehension showed in her big eyes. Her real smile brightened her face, Sly's head snuggling into her palm. Uncertainty dimmed her face, reality smacking her in the face.

"How do you know? My mom nearly murdered me after killing my grandmother." She retorted sarcastically, choosing to dunk her head under the water. Sly poked her head with his slim snout, a curious glint twinkled in her eyes once more.

"I am about to send a friend your way." He promised sincerely, rising to his feet. His head snapped back towards us, the scene melting to a decaying forest. A pool of clear water formed underneath us, the water soaking me as I fell in. My eyes narrowed in their direction, both of them shrinking back. They knew I couldn't stand on the water like them, Sy's hand hovered in front of my face. Yanking me into his arms, the horror was still written on his face. None of this was fair for him, my head shaking. Such dark memories were only met to be mine, the silence always allowing me to suffer in privacy.

"I didn't expect you to come on this memory journey." Sly joked gleefully, leaping onto my shoulders. "I wanted to show you that there was a rainbow at the end of the day. I am sorry for the rough way of explaining why I picked you for his mate. I had watched you from the moment you were born. We demon guardians are responsible for making sure our host is happy. " Ruffling the top of his head, his soft fur brushed against my palm. A ribbon of water danced around in the sky, his rough tongue licking my face.

"Then why did you erase that part of my memory?" I queried oddly, feeling rather displeased at my hair sticking to my face. "Wouldn't you let me have the one moment?" Rolling his eyes, his tail curled around my neck. His ears flatten with annoyance, his tiny claws dug into my shoulder. Taking a deep breath, his tongue licked my face. That day had destroyed him as well, the terror showing in his quivering eyes.

"It was required by demon laws. Since you are a demon, I can show you everything." He sang jovially, licking me again. "I chose well. How are you holding up, Sy? I know that it was a lot. She has lived this long with that. You will get over it." Sy's lips curled into a snarl, his death glare met the wicked grin of Sly. So many harsh words waited for him, the tension in the air growing thicker by the second. Sy felt like Sly had slighted me, his eyes rolling.

"I am glad you showed me. It really shines a light on how creepy you can fucking be." He growled through gritted teeth. "Now why are you really here? You were really going to trap her in this horrible memory for what! Don't you see how distressed she is. If she didn't like you so much, I would be wringing your tiny neck." Kissing him passionately on his lips, the tenseness in his muscles melted. Worry was the last thing he needed, my trauma should only be my problem. Something broke in me, a quiet evil planting itself in my heart.

"I am more worried about you." I stammered brokenly, wiping away my own tears. "I am happy that somebody else knows about it. I have a favor to ask. Can you poof me to my grandmother's grave? I like to talk to her once a year. Also, dry my clothes. You guys seem to forget that I am not Jesus which means I can't walk on water." Blinking aggressively, he clapped his tiny paws. The scene shifted to my grandmother's grave, fresh tears streamed down my cheeks. Sly still rested around my neck, the corner of my lips twitching irritably. Ripping him off of my neck, Sy's brows raised as he caught him in his arms. Kissing the top of her tombstone, the wet grass stained my dress the moment I got on my knees. Ringing out my hair, something felt off. Shaking the feeling off, a silver blade whistled towards my head. Catching in mid throw, a masked figure in a gray sweatshirt and blood soaked jeans. Jumping to my feet, Sy cursed the moment Sly disappeared. Blocking his attack with the knife, my knee slammed into his groin. Cupping his groin, he whined as he collapsed to his knees.

"What the fuck!" A familiar voice snapped grumpily, a wide grin spread cheek to cheek. "Alice? You're alive?" Throwing his mask to the side, my cousin's eager grin frightened me. Offering him my hand, he pulled me into a desperate hug. Tears flowed from his eyes, so many questions waited on the tip of my tongue. Such a reunion seemed so surreal, our family had been brought together once more.

"I thought you died in the fire. Why do you look so different? Did he hurt you?" Felix questioned furiously, shoving me off. Charging at Sy, confusion twisted his face the moment I stepped in between them. His hood fell, his wild hair needed washing. Shaking my head, what the hell happened to him. A tired smile dimmed my face, my eyes focused on the bruises dotting his face. Apparently, I wasn't the only cousin in some type of battle for my life.

"He's my husband, so no. He has been my friend since middle school." I uttered bluntly, Felix shook his head. "Do you want to explain why you look like a bum who went through a round with a heavy weight champion?" Sy wrapped his arms around my waist, a bit of jealousy flashing in his eyes. Jealousy really wasn't required here, Felix was simply my cousin.

"I was bitten by a werewolf a couple of months ago and joined a pack. Well, a hunter found us. He killed everybody. Hence the blood." He explained pensively, pointing to his pants. "I thought you were hunters. Why do you look like him? Are you a demon like him? He smells like death!" Growls thundered in Sy's throat, a death glare in his direction stopping him. No one was going to hurt my family, my mother side taking over. Calm him down first, then take care of me.

"I am a demon but apparently I was born dead. Joke's on me. Are we going to say goodbye to grandma? It is the anniversary of her death." I chirped cheerfully, hiding my annoyance with a polite smile. "I will take you back home but you have to take a shower." Branches snapped in the nearby woods, the smell of silver was crisp in the air. Kneeling down, many words needed to be said to my grandmother. Tears welled up in my eyes, my trembling fingers dug into the grass.

"I don't have much time. So I want to say this." I whispered softly so no one could hear. "I am so happy, well as happy as I can be. I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. I am sorry that I couldn't save you that day. I met the most wonderful fox that day. I am pregnant. I have made so many friends, more than you could ever imagine. I miss you so much. It was nice to see you alive for a minute. I tried to hug your arms but you only went through my arm. If only you could have turned around and hugged me. I have to go now." The hunters footsteps echoed in the near distance, bullets whizzed by our heads. The point of a cross glinted in the distance, the ancient mausoleum provided a way out of this.

"Let's go!" I ordered sharply, sprinting towards the mausoleum. Skidding to a stop, the sight of rusted metal dismayed me. Kicking the door down, my orange dress began to tear. Our empty footfalls echoed in the marble house of the dead, a dark energy called out to me. The foul stench sickened me, an oppressive dread bubbled in my stomach. Hollers echoed above us, the scarlet portal swirling at our feet seemed like a worse fate. Trapped between a rock and a hard place, the hunters were piling down the stairs.

"Do you trust me, Felix?" I inquired gently, attempting not to alarm him. Nodding nervously, he cried out the moment I pushed him into the portal. Hot air lashed at my cheeks, Sy scooped me up. Jumping into the portal, the mirror walls reflected our terrified faces. Landing with a loud thud, the feeling seemed all too familiar. Struggling to our feet, my heart sank. The walls of Beezlebub's dungeon surrounded us, orange flames flickered to life. Footfalls crashed down the stairs, a steady stream of curse words flooded from my lips. Rubbing my forehead, my eyes fell on a black wolf with red eyes. Oh cool, he had been bitten by a demon werewolf. Terror paralyzed me, his paws pounded towards me. Several guards poked their spears into the back of my head, their orders echoed around me. A blunt object smashed into the back of my head, a rough darkness swallowed me whole.