I sat on the couch, holding my dad's hand. My head was laying on his shoulder. Last time we had sat together like this, was the first night Fiona was gone off to Ireland. "Are you ok being..." I couldn't finish the sentence.

"Dead?" He finished and chuckled. He looked at me with a pair of warm eyes that I missed. "No. Of course not. I loved my life. But the saddest thing about death isn't the waiting for my loved ones, it's them getting here." He brought me into a hug. "This isn't your time." I wasn't sure if he was whispering it to me or himself.

I pulled back and looked at him, studying every detail of his face. "And what about you, Uncle Kas?"

Uncle Kas looked away from Constance. "Me? I love it." He didn't smile, just frowned. "I have everything I want here." He looked at Polyphema, who was currently meditating. "Except for my wife." He glared at Polyphema.

Poly had wept at her sister's body for an hour or so. Sisca must have been dead too but she wasn't with us. I had realized a lot of people who I thought would be with my dad or Uncle Kas weren't here. Sisca, Felix. Most importantly, Aunt Wren.

"Why? Where is Aunt Wren?" I had noticed she wasn't here, but I thought maybe she was... off doing something else. I didn't know how being dead worked. Sure, yeah, I was in fact dead. But... just because you throw someone in a pool doesn't mean they know how to swim.

Uncle Kas looked down at the ground, his eyes nearly shut. "She's not here." I wasn't sure exactly where here was.

"Here?" I asked.

Kas didn't answer. He walked out of the house, slamming the door behind him. Mom and Constance didn't notice the wall shaking or the pictures rattling.

"She's walking with the moon." Dad answered for me instead.

I furrowed my brows. So we do go to the moon when we die. "Why aren't you walking with the moon?"

Dad smiled softly. "Same reason as Kas. I have people to look over before I go." He watched mom with sadness as well as with glee. "And when my time is done. I will go."

I wonder where Sisca was then. Surly she would have stayed to watch little Kas.

Oh. Little Kas. Where was he? Was he outside? Did he come after me and Sisca? The reason Sisca wasn't here was because... he was gone too? Wasn't he? I wouldn't put it past Konrad to kill a child. He's already killed a baby not even born yet.

I closed my eyes. "Dad." I whispered. "There was a little boy here when I was here... do you... know... if he is still here?" I asked. "Or if Konrad took him?" I felt bad for that little boy. His father... dead. His mother... gone. He was so young. Just Zach's age. "Dallas, Zach. Fiona. Do you know where they are?"

Dad shrugged. "I don't know about any little boy. But, Zach and Dallas and Fiona... they're still under Konrad's power."

I shot up from sitting and looked at Polyphema, who was still meditating. I looked at Sisca, who's body was lifeless and ignored. "What can I do as the dead? Shouldn't mom be able to see me? Shouldn't anyone who's related to me or once tried to kill me be able to see me? Like Konrad."

Dad shook his head. "Honey you're not a ghost. Konrad's case was different. The only reason those rules applied to him was because he had broke his chains to hell. He was alive, just not out of Hell. He was on the same plain as the living. We're not ghosts. We're not alive. We are just simply... watchers." He took a deep breath. "You can't save them."

I rubbed my temples. There was nothing worse than this. I'd rather be walking with the moon than this. I could watch but I couldn't help. "Then why are we watching? Why not just... walk with the moon. If we can't help?"

Dad closed his eyes, cutting off my view of the most homely thing I knew. His eyes. "Eve... if you truly didn't want to watch your family, if you were really ready to die... you wouldn't be here. I want to watch you grow. I want to see my family make it through this. You need me. You need me to watch over you. You may not see me... or hear me... but you know I'm watching over you. You've asked for my help and I've given you strength. The dead do not die in vain, they do not die for no reason. They die so they can help in ways they couldn't before, to watch you, to be there."

It wasn't a lot of information, but it was hard to take in all at once. For me to grasp what I had learned, what my dad thought and felt. It felt like I had just spent the last 24 hours reading a calculus book.

Sisca shot up from the couch and I frowned. So she had died. She just hadn't gotten here yet.

Mom pulled out her dagger and aimed it at Sisca.

Wait. Sisca didn't... die?

"Sisca?" Mom asked, still pointing her dagger at Sisca, ready to fight if need be.

Sisca nodded her head. "I thought I died. I felt like I had died. She looked over at my body. Oh no, Eve. Tell me you didn't pull me out." Sisca closed her eyes and laid back down.

Mom narrowed her eyes at Sisca. "My daughter died so you could live?!" Mom screamed.

Mom took a mad step to Sisca, but little Kas came running around the corner. "Mommy!" He shouted. Kas ran and jumped over the couch, giving a pleading look to my mom. "Don't touch her!" He yelled.

My mom dropped her knife, looking at the little boy. "You look like..."

"My father!" Kas yelled, his legs shaking. He was terrified. But he was okay. Sisca was okay. Everything was okay.

Everything was okay.

Partly.

"He looks like Kas." Dad muttered, the pieces falling together.

Constance looked from Sisca to Kas, knowing the truth but not admitting it. "Who is... your dad?" She asked carefully, each word deliberate.

"Kasparov Dawn." Sisca admitted shamefully.

Mom looked up to the sky as if Kas was up there. I knew she was silently cussing him out, and if he were here he'd know it too.

Dad turned and looked at the door Kas left out earlier. "Kas, you little shit." Dad stood up and ran out the door to confront him.

Mom put her dagger away and looked at Sisca with irritation. "So I have someone to blame for my daughter's death and a bastard nephew. What a day."

Constance needed to punch something, or more specifically someone. She walked to the wall and smacked her palm against it weakly. "Dammit Dad."

Sisca took a step to my mom, her height a little taller. "Your daughter was brave, and I think we both know that whether I allowed her to or not... she would've tried to rescue me or anyone else."

If only she knew. There was a long list of people I would have watched die out on that field, probably smirked or gotten some popcorn.

"And don't ever call my son a bastard again." Sisca pointed a stern finger at my mom.

It looked like my mom was going to retaliate, the small eye twitch Fiona inherited from her happened at the corner of her blue eye. But she didn't get a chance to say anything at all.

Constance had spoken first. "We don't have time for this. Konrad is out there. And if anyone is to blame for Eve's death, it's him."

Sisca tilted her head at Constance. "So you're the lovely Constance."

Constance held her head up high. "Oldest living Dawn."

I hadn't thought about it, but she wasn't wrong. Constance was now officially the oldest living Dawn. The closest to her age was my mother, but even she was younger. In mentality and maturity, my mother was wiser. But Constance... had seen things not even my mother had. She went through experiences my mother couldn't comprehend. Constance faced revolutions and the death of Kings and Queens. Constance watched as countries fell, as others rose.

Sisca closed her eyes. "I am sorry. About your father."

"I'm not. I'm surprised he lived as long as he did." The Dawn tactic. I would have noticed it a mile away. Pretend like pain isn't real and that it's something us Dawns can't comprehend. Cry for a minute and ignore it for the rest of your life.

Sisca ran her hand through Kas's hair and then bent down to his level, the movement seeming like it required far more energy and movement than it actually did. Although... she did just wake up from near death.

Her body, as I looked her over and closer, had little holes in it from the acidic rain. I looked over mine and realized that I didn't look any better.

"Why don't you go to your room." She asked Kas.

Kas looked from my mom to my body one last time before slowly retreating back to his room.

Instead of standing back up, she let herself fall on the ground.

They started asking questions. What happened? Where did Konrad go? Who was involved? Who's still with the good guys.

I already knew all of it. So instead of paying attention I turned back to Poly, who had... awoken... from her meditation.

Her eyes were glowing a strange white color. "Are you ready?" Her voice sent shivers down my back.

I narrowed my eyes at her. "I have a few... questions."

She nodded slowly. "Understandable."

I walked around the room, watching the adults talk. "Will I remember this?" I asked.

Poly looked at me curiously before she answered. "Yes. It is up to you if you tell anyone. I would recommend you do not, however."

Fair enough. I'd hate to have the answers to the most asked question on the planet amongst ALL the species. What happened after death. And if I told everyone? Well... I feel like that would change things. "Why aren't you staying alive? You have Becker. Why haven't you come back to kill Konrad?"

She wasn't crying, but I could tell that she felt like it. Her eyes watered but never leaked. "Becker has dealt without me for all this time. He can continue to do so. And as for why the Salem's have not stepped in... I cannot kill Konrad. And I have ordered my Salem sisters to not interfere as well."

"But you're... Polyphema. You're a Salem and—"

"Could you kill Colin? Even now? After everything you have been through?" She asked.

My Ash rose. My very real Ash rose. And even without that stupid flower... "No."

I felt a moment of understanding flow between me and Polyphema. For a moment, it was as though I knew her like the back of my hand. Like we had shared the same life. She was in love. And love makes people do strange, questionable, sometimes downright bad or insane things. And I had a feeling if she knew where she'd end up back when Konrad stoke her powers... she wouldn't of changed anything.

Because had I known when I met Colin that I'd end up here... I'd still go to the school that day and meet him.

Dad and Uncle Kasparov came back in and immediately knew. It was time.

Dad smiled and I watched a single tear dance down his cheek. "I'm proud, Eve. I'm sorry I never told you that when I was alive. I'm sorry for... not giving you the kind father you deserved."

I wasn't. I wasn't sorry. Had he not been rough at times, had he not trained me harshly... I would've. Died. I mean I did die. But I would've died a lot quicker had he of been a normal, sweet, nice father. A human father.

"I love you. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Colin."

"No you're not." He laughed and then turned around, walking outside. I expected there to be snow and the weather to be freezing. But there was just a field of grass. It was beautiful and I saw the sunshine.

Uncle Kasparov crossed his arms over his chest. "I don't want you to see me for a while, kid. Also... tell Constance I love her. And that... I'm not gunna get sentimental like your father. Just watch over little Kas." He didn't wince or bat a single sad eyelash when he spun and walked outside.

"Take a deep breath Eve." Polyphema chuckled. "This might hurt."

"This might WHAT."

***

Pain. Darkness. And a lot of pain. I tried screaming, tried clenching my fists. But I couldn't find where my body was. I couldn't open my mouth, couldn't dig my nails into my palms.

A bright white light disrupted the cold darkness, blinding me even though I had no idea if I even had eyes, I couldn't blink.

And all feeling returned. I shot up, taking a deep gulp of air. I felt like I hadn't breathed in years.

My lungs felt scarred and scratched. My lips were dry, my body cold. I coughed and coughed like webs were caught in my throat.

I put my fingers on my wrist and felt my heart rate, trying to slow it down. I slowed my breaths, sluggishly my shaking stopped as well.

I thought my mom would be right by my side but... nobody was here. I looked at the window, where darkness spread outside.

"No, no no no." I stood up, only to instantly fall. I hung onto the couch, determined to stand and make my way to the front door.

The light turned on in the living room and I hung my head, the sudden brightness was making my head hurt.

"Eve?" Mom.

"Mom?" I looked up, forcing my eyes open. And there she stood, her blonde hair pulled up into a bun.

She looked confused which made my stomach hurt. Why was she confused? What was wrong? "How... are you alive?"

I blinked back. "I died. And..." I saw Dad. And Uncle Kas. And Polyphema. I know what happens after death. "I'm not... sure. I—... I remember Polyphema saying something to me. And I feel like... like I saw Dad." I looked up.

Mom closed her eyes and steadied herself. "You don't want to tell me, that's fine." She knew I was lying. She was my mom, of course she knew when I was lying.

She walked to me and wrapped her arms around my neck. I nuzzled my head into her neck, a feeling of joy overcoming me.

It has been too long since I last her. Constance came out to the living room and saw the scene. She smiled at me and then slowly made her way to sitting on the couch.

Mom pulled back and looked me over, her hands on my cheeks. "Oh, my baby girl." She was crying, holding me like she'd never held me before.

"I underestimated you little cousin." Constance chuckled. "Not even death can kill you."

I had a feeling that, should I die again, my eyes would never open.

HEY GUYS! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Sorry for the delay in updates, I was off vacationing. And by vacationing I mean my writing talent was gone for the holidays while I stared at my writing screen. I did try to write. It just... I only got like five words down. BUT IM BACK and so is my inspiration.

Love you guys! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a happy New Year. What's your guys' New Years resolutions??