Butterflies

MICHAEL

I watched them as they ran around happily and tried to catch a butterfly. Even at seven years of age, I do not know how it feels to have another person around me.

I opened the windows a little bit and spied on them. I held onto my breath and tried to be as hidden as possible.

''Michael?'' I turned around to see my mom in the attic. ''What are you doing?''

I shook my head, ''Nothing.'' I lied. But she did not believe that. She walked towards me and opened the window wide and I cringe at the excess light. I was expecting her to chastise me for spying on some kids catching butterflies in the sun but instead, she pitied me. She knelt in front of me with a cheerful smile. ''Why don't you run out there and say, hi? They look friendly.''

I paled, I have never had the guts to say hi to anyone before. It's not that I don't want to, but what I am freaks, everybody out. I shook my head and said no.

''Why?'' She frowned. ''Catching butterflies in this lovely weather seems fun.'' She tried her best to encourage me but I was terrified. Those butterflies could burn to ashes if I am anywhere near them. I disagreed with her.

''My love, listen,'' She turned me around to tie my ridiculously long hair, ''You need to start making friends. I can't be the only one you familiarize yourself with. And this is Avalore, no more dad or angry villagers trying to take you away from me,'' She turned me back to face her after she was done with my hair.

''B-but they know what I am. They hate me here too.'' I cried out. I could see the bitterness, the tears that were forming slowly in her eyes.

''Nobody hates you, okay? Nobody hates you. And not having friends does not have anything to do with what you are, okay? You are my baby, my precious baby. And I want that baby to have friends. Go out there and play with them. Dad is not here to punish you for trying to mix with others, Did you hear that?

You are free now. And they won't hurt you, I promise.''

She was wrong.

''What do you want?'' The tallest among the group asked.

''I...'' swallowed, ''Want to catch butterflies with you guys as well.''

They all burst into laughter.

''Why don't you catch butterflies in hell? That's where you belong too.'' One of them said, a girl. I bit my lower lips and sobbed like a baby as they all laughed and made fun of me.

''Aw, Did we make a demon baby cry?'' the girl pouted mockingly.

''Can they even cry?''

I wiped the tears off my face as I recalled that embarrassing moment in my life. Those kids killed something in me that day. They made me feel like making friends was impossible for me. A cold chill ran down my spine as I stood very close to the mountain. With the help of Levi, I was able to locate my death.

''Are you sure about this?'' He asked me again for the one-thousandth time in the past two hours since we'd got here. The snow covered the mountains. One of the mountains has the Abyss. The place was forged by seven Greek gods to destroy the unclean souls and reborn the clean or pardonable ones.

I sighed, ''I have no other choice.''

''I still feel like there might be another way to free you from the devil.''

''There is no other way!'' I snapped at Levi. ''There. is. no. another way. I can't let Nowel's sister be the sacrificial lamb after I easily gave up her sister for something I thought I could have! I can't be selfish and wicked at the same time to both of them!

Nowel already thinks that I rejected her as my Mate. She thinks that I am a Freak just like the rest of them. She regrets ever being good to me. And my only way of responding to all of that is to sacrifice her only sister? I have caused enough pain to her. For once Levi, Let me try and do something selfless. I started this madness in the first place...and it ends with me.''

''Michael,''

''Levi.'' I cut him short. ''Please help me to protect her and keep her far away from the devil. Keep watch over Her and her family. And do what I failed to do to her."

Levi opened his mouth to say something but the words died on his tongue.

''Please. You are the only demon and friend I trust.''

Friend...?

I smiled. I think I made one.

Lightning flashed as the sky darkened and roared in protest. The ground shook and the mountains groaned as Lucifer appeared in front of me and Levi with fury.

His serpent eyes were narrowed as his wings stretched forth mightily. Fire circled him like rings as the snow-covered trees around us turned to ash.

He is furious.

Levi transformed into his demonic form instantly with his trident and pushed me behind him. ''If you want him to be yours, then you'll have to go through me.''

The devil hissed as he glared at Levi, his brother.

''When will you ever learn, Lucifer? When would you ever learn that we are angels and we do not own the whole world? We can't own what we did not create!''

Lucifer roared in anger and the ground trembled. I was terrified. I can't believe that I entrusted the life of my mate into the hands of this...beast.

''Is this your other way of getting your revenge? To use him to destroy the mortals?''

Lucifer growled, ''Step...away...from what is mine brother.'' I swallowed at the way he said that. A tingling sensation traveled down my spine.

''Nothing...belongs...to You,'' Levi challenged him as he readied himself for any attack because Lucifer looked as if he wanted to rip out the head of ten thousand souls in one minute. ''Deal with it.''

Lucifer snapped and all I saw was a ball of fire charging toward us, but luckily Levi was quick enough to conjure a water-like shield that quenched the devil's fire.

''Michael, run!'' Levi yelled at me, and everything else appeared to move in slow motion as I recalled where else have I heard someone telling me to run and save myself before it was too late. The face of my mother, as we fled to the forest from the knights of Avalore flashed before my eyes, and once I was overwhelmed with fear. Then I turned around like I did before in the very beginning and ran for my life. Levi grabbed the beast, called the devil, and vanished.

I ran towards the mountain that had the Abyss as fast as I could. My jaw dropped as I watched Levi reappear and fight with  Lucifer on the tip of a mountain very close to where I was.

The devil was now a large serpent and tried to devour Levi, but Levi fought bravely with his trident and shield against the serpent.

I managed to reach the abyss. I stared at his depth and swallowed hard. I could not see its end. Only darkness.

This is it. The only way.

I heard the loud cry of the sinful souls that were being destroyed, being torn apart. I began to fear the horrors I'll face if I was not found innocent or pardonable enough to be reborn. My soul would have to face an endless cycle of torture and being torn apart.

''Michael!''

I look up to see Levi.

''Behind you!''

I turn to see the abominable serpent charging toward me with fury. To stop me from being free from its bondage. Its puppet.

''Michael...Jump!'' Levi screamed at me before the ancient serpent got to me and ruined the only chance I had of being free from his oppression.

And I did.

I fell.

Gave into the darkness to escape the devil. Maybe there, I would be delivered. Be set free.

My greatest regret was that even if I got reborn again, I never knew what I was being born again from.

A demon?

A hybrid?

I have no idea.