If only I believed that was true

We'd be living all the dreams in a house with a view

If only, if only you knew how the voices of demons could drown out the truth

Now my one place of freedom is sleeping with you  

28 - Will

My two hours ended a little faster than it should when Alex made his summons through the Link. He didn't say what the matter was, but his mental voice was too stiff for comfort.

Neither of us said a thing as we draughted back to the motel. The silence was unnerving. I wanted to ask Vincent a thousand questions, but I was afraid that if I started to speak, I would never stop. For now, knowing that he cared about me was more than enough.

Whenever I thought of the kiss, it felt as if my heart was swelling, like it was already too big for my chest.

It felt unreal.

At the back of my head, something was telling me that I didn't deserve this little moment of happiness. After all, I was supposed to be grieving for my father's death. Doom's Day was still coming last time I checked. Somehow, I couldn't seem to shake off the feeling that everything would eventually go south on me in more ways than one.

Vincent finally slowed down as we approached the motel grounds. His eyes were vigilant, watchful.

"Something's not right," he grumbled.

Immediately, I scanned the area. "I don't see anything."

"Exactly!" he hissed, grazing the back of his neck. "We've been running around like idiots and no Strays, no wraiths, no nothing. It's like... the quiet before the storm. It gives me the creeps."

Gazing at his face, I couldn't help but think about what Sharifa told me. Was he really bound to be that monster? If so, would he be strong enough to fight his destiny? I had seen him blindly follow Adrianna before. It was as if he was under her spell, out of his senses.

His brows pulled up.

"A," he lowered his face, his eyes searching mine. "Forget what I just said. It's just me, thinking aloud and--"

"I-it's not that." I bit my lip to stop it from quivering.

"Then, what is it, A? Tell me."

He reached for my face, his fingers sliding from my jaw to the back of my neck.

I fought the urge to cringe under the warmth of his hand. It was strange, this feeling of helplessness whenever he tried to invade my personal space. I didn't like that I wasn't in control of the situation. Even so, I couldn't move away from him.

Steadying my breaths, I faced him. "Back in the hideout, Sharifa said something about you... and Adrianna--"

"Legion," he corrected, his eyes steely. "Adrianna's dead."

Clearing the tears from my voice, I shook my head. "She said you and Legion will somehow unite in destroying the world. And she made it sound like there's nothing we can do to prevent that from happening!"

"You know I won't let that happen," he answered, running his thumb down the trail of tears that had fallen from my eyes without my permission.

"It's just... I'm scared, Vincent."

"I'm not going to destroy the world, A. Not with you in it."

I pulled away from him, hands fisted on my sides. "I'm not scared for the world! I'm scared for you!"

Nodding, he averted his eyes as if to digest what I just said. Then he chuckled. "You're scared. For me. Have you met me?!"

"This isn't a joke!"

The smirk on his face slowly disappeared. "Come on, Aramis. I'm a demon and a monster. What's the worst that could happen?"

"What if Sharifa was right?" I said through the lump in my throat. "What if you can't help it?"

"Don't believe Sharifa! For once, Aramis. Just for once, believe in me!"

His voice echoed throughout the car park. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he made an effort to control his temper. Then, he reached for my hand, his fingers weaving in between mine. For a while, he gazed at it with that almost-smile on his face.

As he looked up at me, his pale gray eyes were honest, calm, as though his resolve was stronger the force that holds the earth itself together.

He said, "Believe in us."

And I did. With my nod, the case was closed. To think I used to have the last say on anything.

With his free hand, he wiped the tears on my face. He whispered, "Now, quit crying or they'd get the wrong idea," before tilting his chin to the building entrance where Mei and Belial stood waiting.

I composed myself as Vincent pulled me to meet them.

Mei was all smiles, looking absolutely dainty even in leather jacket, jeans and hunting boots. Her eyes were fixed on our hands.

"It is about time," she chirped, joining her hands.

With the burn creeping up my cheeks, I tugged my hand from Vincent's grip. He didn't let go, though. He just threw me an ominous look and hid our hands behind his back.

All I could do was stare at the floor.

Something moved from under Belial's very elaborate beige robe. It was round, no larger than my hand, red and fuzzy. As its tiny head protruded from Belial's collar, it let out the tiniest bark.

The little puppy's big amber eyes trained on me, expectant. On its forehead was a diamond-shaped patch of white fur. It didn't took long to recognize him.

"Quiet, George," Belial hissed, pushing it back under her robe. "I don't think they allow pets in here."

"Nice look, Flynn," Vincent chided, forcing back a snort. "Have you been working out?"

Byron Flynn puffed smoke from his nose before retreating back under the safety of Belial's robe.

I elbowed Vincent's side. "You hurt his feelings."

"What?!" he feigned innocence. "He looks like a teacup Pomeranian."

"What happened to him?" I asked Belial.

Letting out the longest, deepest sigh, she shook her head. "Well, Azrael's health ain't gettin' better, hun. Reapers and familiars are affected differently. Most of them lost the ability to heal. Some can't summon the Bind. And then, there's this little guy. You see, Elementals--unlike regular familiars--don't have their original bodies. How they look like is a manifestation of the elemental power inside them. So when they weaken, this happens."

I tried to coax out Byron Flynn without much success. "Poor baby."

"What're you here for?" Vincent turned to Belial, the constant furrow between his brows returning in an instant.

Folding her arms over her chest, she rolled her eyes. "Delivery. Your idiot just woke up."

Vincent let out an irritated groan. "You shouldn't have. Aren't you gonna be punished for leaving hell?"

She shrugged. "It's hell. Let it burn."

His face darkened. "Where's he?"

"Upstairs."

Belial led the way and we all followed. Finally, she stopped in front of the door just across our room.

Opening the door, Vincent paused to let go of my hand. Mei was quick to anchor an arm around mine. From the narrow gap, I caught a glimpse of Cairo sitting on the side of the bed, waiting.

"I want to talk to him," I told Vincent.

The look on his face told me he would rather not let me. But then, he stepped aside to make way.

Noticing Vincent's wordless protest, Mei gave my arm a gentle squeeze, whispering, "We should leave the masters to discuss among themselves, Aramis. Someone is waiting for you in the other room. He is dying to see you."

Before I knew it, she was already dragging me to the other room. As Mei was closing the door behind her, I glanced back at Vincent. He somehow looked relieved.

The two-bed suite seemed too cramped with eight people trying to squeeze in without actually getting too close to each other.

Mei immediately went to where Vlad sat. Archie and Amyr stood behind the chair. From the farthest corner of the room, Hector and Kyoshiro stood with their backs on the wall. Alex kept pacing back and forth where there was still floor to walk on, grazing the back of his head as he did.

My gaze jumped from one face to another, trying to measure their reactions.

When I saw who was sitting by the bed, I stopped in my tracks. I blinked repeatedly just to make sure my eyes weren't playing tricks on me.

The man looked back at me, his brown eyes misty. He began to rise.

As the feeling returned in my legs, I ran to him. I threw my arms over his shoulder and embraced him like I never did before.

I couldn't believe it. But the feeling of his arms awkwardly wrapping around me, the way his shoulders shook as he pressed his lips over my hair were real enough.

"Dad... You're alive," I choked out the words. It felt even more unreal hearing it aloud. "I thought--"

"I thought so, too," he said, pulling away to examine my face. I never thought I would see Marcel Rayne smile again. "But then, I heard your voice. I thought I was hallucinating. I've been looking for you for seven years! I'm not even sure if you're still alive. So as I was... dying, I thought, if only... if only I could only see you one last time. Then, I heard him."

My brows puckered. "Him?"

"The boy," Dad answered, half-laughing, half-crying. "He said that if I agree to his terms, I'll see you again. And here you are. "

Silently, I took him in. He had no wounds, nor scars on him. All I saw was the Roman numeral one on the side of his neck.

All of a sudden, my eyes began to water. I clasped a hand over my mouth to suppress the sounds that kept escaping my throat. I didn't think anyone could cry this much in one day and I was tired of it.

No one in the room said a word. And from the looks I got from everyone, there was no denying what that single marking meant.

"Aramis?" Dad placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Did you know what you signed up for?" I shied away, shaking my head. "Answer me, Dad!"

His eyes roamed the room, as if in search for answers. "The boy... wants my service in return. Although, I'm not really sure--"

"You didn't know," I muttered to myself, sagging down the edge of the bed. "I'm sorry, Dad. I'm so sorry..."

Could Dad really do this?

I remembered how devastated I was when I realized that I was going to be a slave forever. Now, I didn't know what was worse: Dad dying, or him being brought back to life?

Of course, things were much better now with Vincent. But the world was ending and it would be the worst timing for a new familiar with no training and without any idea what "services" were expected of him.

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Aramis," said Dad, his voice gravelly. His hands were clenched on his lap, shaking. "I may not know everything, but I think I understand enough. Amyr here has been filled me in on what you've been up to these past few years on our way here... As unbelievable as they sound--" he glanced at Amyr "--if you can do it, then, maybe I can, too."

He tried to smile, but I knew him all too well to not notice the fear in his eyes. Managing to return his smile, I took his hands and enclosed them in mine.

"Of course, Dad."

But I was never the optimist.

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