Here's an update for my tethered to you people— an update on Angelica! (Or "Gilly" pronounced Jilly)— but I figured I'd show you guys what she looks like all grown up and a bit of her personality.

Y'all my next story idea is plaguing me. I can't wait to introduce my new character, y'all are gonna love her.

Her initials are E. A. A.

Stay tuned~

Alastor's POV

My eyes snapped open and I gasped.

Sitting up quickly, my hand went over my chest and I tried to slow my heartbeat.

Did I have a nightmare...? I can't remember...where am I...?

Looking around, I was in my room.

Wait...my room?

Immediately I looked down at my hands, and my eyes widened when my skin was a warm brown instead of a sickly grey. Regular fingernails... no claws.

I flexed my hand, but still...no claws.

Hm...

I flicked my wrist, trying to use my powers but...nothing happened.

Was it all a dream...? No...me dying, I—there's no way it was a dream, I'm dead...

I felt my body, and my hair and my face. I'm real...

I counted my fingers...five on each hand. This all feels so real, so...what am I missing, why does it feel like this isn't right?

Throwing the covers off of me, I slid out of bed. I am...fully dressed in my day clothing. That's odd. A quick glance out the window tells me what time it is...night.

Suddenly there was the sound of...something...downstairs. Quickly, I grabbed my serrated hunting knife, opening my door quietly.

My brows furrowed at the noises...like something in the kitchen. Or someone...there's a voice...are they singing?

A girl...?

Why is there a female in my house...I live alone.

Slowly I crept down the hall, quietly, stepping over each spot I knew may creak or make noise. The noise only got louder as I made my way down the stairs.

I flipped the knife in my hand, positioning it to where I could kill whoever was here easily.

Rounding the corner that leads to the kitchen, I saw the woman...she looks...odd.

Long brown hair went down her back, curling at the ends. She swayed her hips slightly, and she was very tiny.

I had at least a foot on her, but I am pretty tall. She was dressed strangely...her clothing looks nothing like any woman I've ever seen would wear.

But it hugged her beautifully—wait...what? Why...who is this person?

In my confusion, I lowered the knife, just tilting my head as I watched her maneuver around, humming softly. The song was nothing I recognized.

Suddenly she turned around, and gasped, nearly dropping the dish she was cleaning when she saw me.

Warm, tan skin and caramel eyes. The most beautiful face I've ever seen...light freckles spotted her nose and partly on her cheeks.

"Alastor!" She fussed, and then chuckled, "you scared the fuck out of me, what are you doing just standing there?"

I blinked in surprise at the curse she just threw at me, but then my eyes widened.

Aria...Aria! That's right...how odd, how silly of me I...

Wait...

That's not right, either. Why is...if that had all been a dream...

"What're you looking at, silly?" She asked me, and I blinked, snapping back to reality.

This...is...reality...? Isn't it?

My brows furrowed as she walked up to me, and her hands landed themselves against my chest. She dusted off my vest with a smile on her face and straightened my bow tie.

"Dear..." I started, my mouth opening before the words could follow, then I just shook my head, "w-what's...going on—"

Suddenly there was a tap on the kitchen window and I looked over. There stood a young boy...covered in blood and cuts. He looked like he'd been beaten...

Is that me? No...that's not me.

We made eye contact and I couldn't seem to form a proper thought. He had a soft frown on his face, and slowly lifted his hand and tapped on the glass again.

Then his eyes shifted to Aria.

Subsequently, I remembered her standing there, and turned to face her. But the eyes I was met with were wide and terrified.

"A-Alastor..." she gasped, and then blood bubbled out of her mouth, "why...?" She choked, and my eyes widened.

"Wha—" I started, panicking, but then I felt as if I was pushing into something, and looked down.

My knife...was buried in her stomach.

And I was the one holding it.

Yanking it out quickly, I threw it to the ground, terror sweeping through me. I pressed my palm against the wound as it gushed warm blood through my fingers.

Her legs gave out and she fell against me, and I slowly lowered to my knees with her. I kept my hand pressed firmly against her wound, but it was just bleeding too heavily...

"A-Aria— I didn't— I'm..." I choked slightly as my throat tightened and I realized fully what I'd just done.

Her breaths shuddered and she felt heavier and heavier in my arms as her body began to relax.

"Alastor..." she uttered so softly I almost didn't hear her, "I..."

I watched her lips as she spoke, but suddenly she went quiet. Blood leaked from the corner of her mouth and her body went completely limp in my arms.

Her chest rose slightly before she let out a very quiet sigh, expelling all the air in her lungs...and then she stopped breathing.

My eyes widened and I held her tighter, looking to her eyes.

They were glazed over, and had a far away look in them.

"Aria..." I said, shaking her slightly. Her head lolled to the side and I grit my teeth, "Aria...don't do this to me again—" I pulled in a gasp as I choked on a sob, "—I-I can't do this without you...please don't leave me again, please, please, please......" my words turned into crying, and I just rocked back and forth with her in my lap.

Her face remained peaceful, blood slowly leaking from her mouth and stray tears dripping from her lashes.

"This is how it should be. This is who you are."

My cries stopped and I froze. Slowly I looked up, and standing in front of me was Xander. I felt angry, then, holding her body close to me.

"Leave us alone!" I screamed at him, "leave us the fuck alone!"

He chuckled, scoffing slightly as he took a few leisurely steps towards us.

"My good man, do you not understand I'm only showing you a truth you're too cowardly to face? This is who you are," he hissed, bending forward and putting his arms behind his back.

I looked up at him, hot, angry tears rolling down my face.

"This is who you've always been..." he continued, and tilted his head.

He lowered to his knees slowly, and reached forward towards Aria. I pulled her away, my arms trembling, but he kept perusing.

His fingers brushed her hair from her eyes, and he clicked his tongue, "you would've killed her...in life...and in death..." his eyes lifted to mine and I gasped when staring back at me were two deep blue eyes...

He's human, too...?

Slowly he stood back up, and the room around us began to get darker.

"She was never safe from either of us...and if you want to be technical...when I erase her...that blood will be on your hands, too," he cooed softly, hands still behind his back.

I furrowed my brows and grit my teeth, "what the hell does that mean?" I hissed, and he chuckled, shaking his head.

"My dear friend, everything I do..." slowly he stepped back into the shadows of the room, the inky blackness enveloping him. Those blue eyes became shrouded in darkness and glowed a bright yellow, that bright gemstone returning.

"I learned from you."

I woke up with a deep gasp, taking in air like I'd been under water. I began breathing heavily, throwing the covers off of me to try and release some of this intense heat I was feeling.

My body was covered in sweat, and I was confused as to why I was surrounded by blankets and...in the living room?

The fire was smoldering just a few feet away, the ashes glowing slightly as the fire died. My breaths were still coming a bit fast, but then there was movement next to me.

Looking over, I immediately felt relief.

There slept my woman...my gorgeous mate, and her adorable little pout she always wears when she sleeps.

I remembered then the very long night of passion we shared, and the worry from the dream seemed to melt away.

"Oh, my love..." I whispered softly, sliding back into my spot before I rolled onto my side.

She was laid next to me...naked. So vulnerable, so soft. I myself wore no clothing as well, and as I looked at her sleeping features, my thoughts went back to that dream...

Then I smiled, and gently brushed her hair back over her shoulder, touching her soft skin.

"You're wrong..." I whispered to the memory of my dream.

Just then her eyes fluttered open slowly and she squinted at me as she tried to blink the sleep away.

"Alstr...?" She mumbled sleepily, and I chuckled softly.

"Yes, my love...it's me," I responded and she smiled, pulling her hand up over mine and rubbing my knuckles.

"What're you up to...?" She mumbled again, her eyes beginning to close once more. I laid my forehead against hers, and hummed.

"Nothing, my love..." I answered her, and she smiled softly, snuggling closer to me.

"Good...cuddle me," she requested, and I wrapped my arms around her, holding her securely against my chest.

"Nothing in the world would make me happier..." I replied softly.