I hurried to one of the stallions and mounted on it. Before Luci could climb up the other, horse I offered her a hand, which she took rather enthusiastically. With one pull, I hoisted her nearly weightless form behind me.

Her arms automatically wrapped around my waist.

I glared at it. “With all due respect, lady, I told you I don’t like being touched and I haven’t changed my mind about it now.”

“Really.” Her little tone challenged me. “Then why make me ride with you and leave the other horse behind?”

I clicked my heels on the stallion’s side. It neighed, front legs leaving the ground. “Aramis is tired. She’ll need it. Now, keep your distance.”

“Alright,” she answered happily, tightening her arms around me. She was more persistent that I’d thought.

I saw Aramis watching us from the doorway of the laboratory, her long hair carried by the wind. The look on her face was all too familiar. It reminded me of that one time she broke her hand after punching the Cruiser’s hood.

With a grunt, I reeled the horse towards the town. It bucked and galloped into the woods. As we rode, I speculated if I had enough time. If Aramis had enough time left for a quick-fix. If there was a remedy at all.

Without realizing it, we arrived at Belial’s farm.

“What are we doing here?” asked Luci.

I got off the horse. “Go to your father and explain the situation. I’ll see if Belial can do something about Aramis’… condition.”

Right as she began to complain, I slapped the stallion’s rear and watched them go like the wind.

Through the traffic of carriages, animals, people and trolleys, I weaved my way up the orchard asking people who turned up their noses as soon as I’d come into view. Only one—a boy—was kind enough to tell me that she was resting on her lodestone.

Two steps at a time, I climbed up the narrow rudimentary stairs leading to the top of the hill the orchard was founded on. Cursing, I stopped to do away with my right boot, tossing it aside as I went. The busy villagers wasted precious time ogling me, briefly abandoning their chores as I slipped away.

Soon, I recognized Belial sitting at the pinnacle of the precariously inclined lodestone. Without a chance to catch my breath, I scaled its narrow and whittled surface.

“What’s it this time?” Belial groaned indignantly as soon as I reached her.

“Aramis is turning,” I panted.

“That, I already know,” she mumbled to the mouth of her trusty flask. “Tell me somethin’ I don’t.”

“Cerberus attacked her! You said she won’t turn with whatever that stuff you slathered on her.”

There was a mysterious glint on her eyes as she glanced at me. “Do tell.”

Impatiently, I related to her the details of the recent events. All that I knew of, at least. She nodded once. The rest of the time, she looked uninterested. As if she’d rather jump off that lodestone than listen to me.

When I was done, she said “And what do you plan to do?”

“You’re the healer. You tell me.” I was frantic. Every second wasted made the chances of me keeping Aramis safe slimmer.

“I told you. Resurrect her.”

My brows very much wanted to meet each other. I breathed out, closing my eyes. “She won’t do it. There must be another way,” I mumbled through my teeth.

“Come again?” Her tone was mocking.

“She won’t do it! Okay?” I yelled with undeniable desperation.

It seemed as though the activity in the orchard was paused by an invisible remote control. Every pair of eyes darted towards our direction.

“She thinks t-that…” The words got caught on the lump in my throat. “That if she let go of her original soul, my father would get a hold of it and use it for intentions that could end the world—all seven realms—as we know it.”

She, in point of fact smiled. “Indeed. That’s exactly what’s gone be happenin’. Your girl mighty resilient on this?”

“Yeah.” I was out of breath. But not because of doing a mad run uphill. “She’d rather just… crossover to Nirvana. Or rot and get killed. Either way, she’d… just cease to exist.”

Belial set her flask on the tip of the lodestone and pushed herself up. “And I’m guessin’ those two ain’t gonna work for you?”

“No.”

“Why?” It was apparent she knew the answer. She only wanted to hear it from me.

Hands balled in tight fists, I met her coffee-brown eyes.

“I don’t want to lose her,” I whispered, yet the words were so loud they deafened me. “I’ll do… anything.”

Belial just blinked and motioned for me to descend. With the liquor container in her hand, she followed me. Together, we walked wordlessly. I could only guess we were heading to Sathariel’s house.

Upon reaching the red pillars at the top of the endless stairs that led to the Cherry tree garden, Belial halted. She touched my forehead with an index finger. Her nails were long and it dug into my skin.

“You’re willin’ ta do anythin’.”

“Anything.”

She raised her brows. “Even if it goes against all you believe in?”

I nodded.

“Even if it means havin’ ta relive the most painful moments of your life? Those moments you so yearned to put behind you? ‘Cause you will feel pain, kid. I assure you. And this is not the kind that you can try to forget. It will scar you for life. Unless…” she fell quiet. Thinking.

“Unless what?”

“Unless you step on your own pride, throw away everythin’ that had bound you from the very beginnin’ and listen to this ol’ thing.” Her finger ran down to my face, then to the left side of my chest.

Cryptic. But whatever. “As long as she lives.”

Her lazy eyes brightened. “Then we better get your brothers back from Halo. I got a feelin’ Luci’s ol’ lab partner has a solution to this quandary.”

“Who?” The space between my brows crumpled.

“Can’t remember his name… Come on. Just how many of your brothers could possibly be into science?” She gestured towards her face. “Black hair. Glasses. Always lookin’ like he just got up from bed. Maybe a head shorter than you. Skinny. Aussie accent. Big eyes. Disturbin’ smile. Rarely ever blinks—“

“Hector…”

“Yes,” she laughed, pointing a finger at me. “That’s the one. Met Luci during one of our Crossover Solstice a couple centuries ago. Been here twice. Never returned though. I guess, S scared the hell out’ta him.”

Of all people. Hector. That complicated everything.

If I wanted Aramis cured, it’d make perfect sense that I’d have to leave her in the care of the possibly sadistic, most mentally-unstable member of the family.

“You screwed us up the last time.” I slapped her hand off me. “How can I be sure this’d work?”

“You can’t,” she answered grimly. “But you ain’t got a choice, kid. Now, get some shut-eye. I’ll relay this to S and see if he can be reasoned with. You’ll need our help if your goin’ against your ol’ man. Plus, we’ll all have to get out’ta this hell hole sometime. Contribute to society and suchlike.”

“Is that even possible?”

As she started heading to Sathariel’s garden, Belial glanced at me over her shoulder. “Sure. But we’re gone have ta ask Eldest first.”

***

In my room. Pacing the floor. Waiting. Counting the minutes. Still waiting.

Luci said Aramis was coming home. Nothing bad happened. I couldn’t breathe still. Not until I saw with my own eyes that she was fine.

“Don’t worry, she says. She’s in good hands,” I muttered to myself. It was already dark. “What the hell is taking them so long?!”

I pocketed my hands. This wasn’t good. Not good. No furniture to throw. If there were, they weren’t mine to break in the first place.

Pinching the bridge of my nose, I slumped in Aramis’ chair. I leaned my head back. Maybe, a nap won’t be so bad. Shut my eyes for a while. While waiting. Even made it look like I’d fallen asleep in the chair unintentionally so she’d have no choice but to use the bed without making a fuss.

Exhaustion quickly made its claim on me. Soon, I was dreaming.

I was looking up. I was little. Everything else was taller.

A big gentle hand held mine. My hand was tiny. It fit perfectly inside that hand. It was my mother’s. She was smiling, hunkering down to tweak the ends of wavy hair away from my eyes.

“I shall be returning very soon, Vince,” said she, smothering me in a tight embrace. “I will pine for you every day.”

Then she was gone.

The hand that held mine was a tad smaller now. Bony. Fragile. It was my brother’s.

“Vlad? When is Mother coming home?”

“Soon, Vince,” answered he. “Soon.”

But soon meant several years. My hands had grown quite big to fit inside Mother’s.

I was on the floor with my back pressed against the door. Soft knocks roused me. I was dumbfounded to find tears coursing incessantly from my eyes.

“Vince? Will you please open this door?” Mother called from the other side.

“I cannot!” I bellowed, wrapping my ears with my hands. I closed my eyes shut. “Stay away from me!”

“He has been locking himself in his room ever since Adrianna… passed away.” It was Vladimir. “Submitting him for immortalization would be our only option. Perhaps, it shall be sufficient to curb his… ability.”

“Do not be frightened, Vince.” Mother’s voice was gentle, kind. “You are a very good boy. I am certain that you mean no harm.”

There was screaming. Loads of them. The sounds of slaughter and growls of hatred overwhelmed my senses. Ruins and death lay on my feet, all of them a doing of the monstrosity I had become.

Suddenly, I’d become weary. Too weary.

The instant I opened my eyes, my hands were covered in red. Red scales. Red blood.

Mother’s arms were draped over me, soothingly caressing the back of my head. As I stared in horror at the crimson liquid that saturated the back of her frock, I began to moan.

“Sshh… You must be tired,” Mother hushed tenderly. Anger was untraceable from her voice. In fact, I could tell she was smiling while she bled. “Everything is alright. Sleep now, Vince. And dream of all things wonderful. You had been a very good boy.”

***

“Vincent?” called a voice.

Rubbing my tired eyes, I forced my lids to open.

There was she. Aramis. Magically appearing in front of me. Her face was caked with dust. Tears. Some blood. Nonetheless, she seemed fine.

Mindlessly, I pulled her towards me and looped my arms around her. A sigh of relief escaped me. I closed my eyes just to feel that she was real. That moment, I’d sworn to keep her safe. To keep her by my side. No matter what it takes.

Her hands fell uneasily on her sides. “B-bad dream?”

Without a word, I hid my face in the hollow of her neck and breathed her in. A mellifluous amalgamation of cashmere and Shea. “Is it really you?” I whispered into her shoulder.

“I… I guess,” she answered trembling.

“Okay,” I laughed quietly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks for coming to Aramis' birthday party! Hoped you enjoyed busting the Grim pinata open! And cyber takehome cakes for everyone! I love you all! *turns up the Zed music* woot woot!