The girl came closer, lifting her hands to reach the massive hand, that was in the air. The demonic hand twitched, but it was lowered down, so Amy could touch it, showing a ridiculous difference in the sizes. She guided it to the side of her head, letting the claws dig into her quills. It was a strange sight. One move and her head would be crushed into a bloody pulp. Eclipse felt that the mere touch was filling him with the warmth, pushing his desire for the revenge away.

He bit his lip, not averting sight from his master... one move... just one... and he will have his revenge... she wasn't ordering him to let him go... there were no consequences for him... but why... was she looking at him that way?

Her voice was so pleasant to his ears. "Find your own reason to forgive him. That's all. Forgiving is the first step to a new beginning." She moved closer, putting her open palm on a red chest. "I know you are kinder than other demons. Taking a revenge is easy, but moving forward is much harder and it takes true courage." For the first time, she was frowning but in a sad way. "Because at that time, you are fighting with scarier monster than your enemy can ever be."

He put his free hand on her own. "Who is that monster?"

"Yourself." They were watching each other in a silence. Eclipse saw his own reflection in her big eyes. He changed so much... but was it just his face? The fuzzy feeling reached his whole body, bringing to the surface the moments they spent together. Would she be crying over this jerk's death? Suddenly, the hand, that was squeezing the exorcist, released the grip, being pulled off.

"Fine," he mumbled, feeling tired, but... light at the same time.

The exorcist filled his lungs to the brim with air. The gathered energy in his palm dissolved. What had happened? Wasn't that demon about to kill him? He lifted his head, seeing her hugging him and saying: "Thank you."

The demon felt red in the face, so he averted his eyes and mumbled: "But I want a dozen of cookies as compensation."

She patted his arm muscles. "I'll gladly make them."

Silver, with Gold's help, was able to stand up, leaning his body against the wall. He was short on breath, panting and gasping with his neck sore. The flashing circles slowly disappeared, but he felt that migraine was still with him. 'Did he just... let me go?' ran thru his mind.

The scene in front of his eyes was just ridiculous! A huge demon was calmed by a mere girl?! He could still feel the claws squeezing the air out of him. In an instant, Eclipse started to shook, grabbing his chest showing signs of having a problem with breathing.

"Eclipse, what's wrong?" shouted Amy having panic in her eyes.

'My body...' murmured the demon in the mind as his body was burning from inside. Again he felt a familiar pang in his head... like the one before he was chained. He made hoarse sounds as his body was shrinking until he recovered the original form. The more powerful he felt a seconds ago, the weaker he had become. "I... I'm fine..." he gasped glancing at her with a weak smile.

She hugged him, patting his back. "You scared me there." She broke the hug and kissed his forehead making the other widen the eyes. "I'm so proud of you." Her eyes fell on Sonic, standing in the doors.

His body was shaking and tears could be seen to fall down. With the commotion, no one noticed when he stepped into the doorway. All eyes were directed at him. There was no need for any aura reading ability to know this child was confused and desperate after knowing the truth.

When it was revealed, Gold made a mental note to inform Sonic about the fate of his parents. But she wished to conceal certain details about it, letting him believe it was indeed an accident... but on a lot less cruel note.

"What..." his shivering voice was hardly audible. "What am I supposed to do... To believe in..." the words were mixing with the sniffing.

Amy softly squeezed Eclipse's hand and answered: "If you don't know what to believe in, trust in what is your heart whispering to you."

Sonic slowly lifted his head and more tears were pouring down. "Why..." He started to shout: "Why do you have an answer for everything?" his body dashed, hugging Shadow, rubbing the head against the chest fur. "And you... and you... Why do you have such kind heart?! Why are you smiling so gently? How am I supposed to hate you like that?!" The tears were soaking both of them.

The priest returned the hug with his head the best way he could. "I'm sorry, truly sorry."

Silver felt salty. Why was everyone showing gentleness to monsters? They should be hated. It was like, the attempt to take his life, never happened!

The pink lass felt relieved. "Now, let's all calm down," she said looking around, petting now weakened Eclipse, who laid his head on her lap. "We all need a warm meal, rest and what more... a bath." Once she said it, most of them more or less visibly checked their odor. Sonic was the most obvious making the girls crack a small smile.

"That's a good idea," agreed Gold. "Let's all go upstairs. I don't think this case is solved. There is so much to answer," she looked at her partner. There was no need for words to be spoken. He knew... she was about to ask him to release Shadow, the most terrible demon they had ever met. It was true he felt there were still many unanswered questions, he was even willing to let the fake priest live... but letting him roam free?

His head got so dizzy and the world around him swirled for a moment. He made wobbly steps, pushing Gold aside and mumbling: "Do what you want." With these words he sluggishly left the room, feeling his body being filled with nothing but coldness.

His tenrec partner sadly followed him with her eyes, before turning to the chained priest. "I'll let you go now," she gently said.

"W-What? Just like...?" he stuttered.

"Well," she broke the first seal on his chains. "So much had happened." The medium continued to release one seal after another as they used the strongest form to chain him. "I... don't know what to think about it anymore." His right arm was free and he hissed as he tried to move with the wrist. "It looked so simple at the beginning."

Yes, all of this started when they were sent to investigate a standardly looking accident involving demons that occurred in a small town. Then more tangled threads were discovered and the case grew into a mystery. Even with her head swelling with thoughts she finished untieing the other hand without making a mistake.

The priest was massaging his wrists, slowly feeling the blood rushing back. He used the cross behind as a support, getting up without falling down since his legs got pins and needles, making every step unconformable. Sonic was helping him to walk and together they gradually made it out.

Meanwhile, Eclipse was trying to get up, but he always fell down. The bandages were torn into pieces and his legs were unsteady. Whatever that transformation was, it must have used a ton of his energy. Who knows? Maybe he would drain himself to the death if he would strain his body any longer.

"Miss Gold, can you take care of Eclipse?" Amy asked, feeling she can't support him since she felt her legs were weak too.

The tenrec looked at the demon child, who quickly averted eyes. If she was blind and used her telepathy to scan the surroundings, she would hardly find any malevolent intention inside of him. It was like looking at any other kid. She slightly smiled, nodding. "Of course," she knelt, offering him the back.

He was puzzled and he climbed only when he got the approve from his master. Once there he felt another warmth filling him. It was nostalgic. Crestia used to do that when he was little. And speaking of the demoness, she was dumbstruck. Not a bit escaped her eyes or ears. She was shocked by her brother's power display and the feeling of happiness filled her when he had the cursed exorcist's life in his grasp.

But then that small girl stopped him! 'She... She has Eclipse under her control!!' She thought the girl was weak and easily influenced, but she had such strong will! Unbelievable! 'No! I can't die yet!' she growled in her mind. 'Not until I free my baby bro!' She waited until they left, leaving her alone. 'Now's my chance!' She rammed the barrier, burning her skin. 'I can't let her turn him into an obedient slave!!'

She thought that collar bounds only the body but now it was apparent it clouds the mind too, turning a demon into an unresisting pet. And her bro was especially vulnerable to such spell. He was too young and... his heart... for a demon, he had shown surprising gentleness. She continued her attempts to break the circle and not even her burning skin was stopping her.

But she heard quick steps, forcing her to lay down, pretending she didn't try to break free. 'Damn it!!' Thru the hole entered the lass she cursed just a seconds ago.

"Eclipse's sis!" she called. In her hand, she held a small white box with a red plus. "I'm sorry for the delay! Let's first tend your injuries!" She sat down opening the box, taking out bandage, disinfection and other stuff. She poured smelly liquid on a ball of cotton wool she was holding in pincette. Once she finished it, she crossed the barrier without thinking. "It will sting-Ugh!"

Crestia caught her chest, pinning her down. "I'll kill you and free my bro!" She lifted her other hand but halted the blow. There was no fear in Amy's eyes. She had so strong and strange smell around it stopped her.

"It's alright now," she stated.

"What's alright? You enslaved my baby bro!! I was almost tortured to death!! And when he can take a revenge you rob him of it too?!" she growled feeling furious.

"It would only create more pain," she said with a firm voice.

"It would make me feel better!" She clenched her lifted fist more, but she still hesitated to deal the blow. But why? Was the answer in these blue eyes? There was no hatred, no fear or remorse. She was honestly watching her. What was she seeing? The demoness noticed her hands were on her own... they were so small... gently holding her.

"You are not an evil person."

"Ah... Ah... I'm a demon..." She had a problem with breathing, gasping for an air. What was happening to her? Why was her body becoming hot?