“Because of who you were,” Nightmare said. “In your past lives, Risa and you were a set of soul twins—powerful demons, deadly, but also loyal to keeping the peace, or should I say you...Zuko was for peace, Risa was all for fighting, but she followed your lead. When Tumon first started making trouble, he hid it well. He also won over Risa or as she was called then, ‘Allmomon.’ She fell deeply in love with Tumon; however, you Zuko, or ‘Zalmomoth’ as you went by then, did not like him. It took you a long time to get Allmomon to see what he was doing and get her help to seal him away. Allmomon trusted you, so she went along with your plan, even when the demon she loved begged her not to. Tumon always said he would get her back, and make you pay—kill you, so it breaks the link, and he would get to keep Risa. She is no longer Allmomon; even when Risa takes her demon form, she will still not be the demon Tumon craves, but he will not care.” Nightmare watched the black grow in Zuko’s eyes. Then it was gone, but the smile on his face was pure evil.
“If that demon thinks I will let my sister go to just anyone, and that I will die, leaving her without the other half of her soul, then he is madder than I thought. I will kill him first,” Zuko said and turned to leave.
“Zuko,” Ben called so quietly it was hard to hear, but Zuko stopped. “We will get her back, and we will make them pay—but together. Do not go alone,” Ben went on. When Zuko turned to speak, Ben smirked. “Do you really want me to tell Risa, when she comes back, that you put your life at risk? Do you really want her to know you risked your life?” he asked, and Zuko went white.
“Okay, I will wait for you guys, but start learning your shit. I am getting tired of waiting,” he said sternly and walked out. Ben watched him go.
“Nice work,” Nightmare said, watching Ben now. Ben just sighed. “You have not met Risa. The only person Zuko really listens to is her, and he doesn't want her mad at him for anything,” he said and rubbed his hands together. “So, we know Tumon’s past, what about mine?” he asked.
Nightmare smiled. “Takes after me I see,” he said. “You were taken by someone we thought of as a close friend, a demon who was helping your mum; she was ill with a rare sickness which we now think was to weaken her and allow them to take you when you were born and the medic was working on your mum. The man slipped you away and put up blocks on your magic. We tried to reach out every day, but we could only reach you from the age of 10. We don’t know why,” Nightmare said, frowning now.
“Risa killed me when I was 10,” Ben said. When his dad growled, he shook his head. “She did not mean to,” he went on. “It was just after her mum and dad were killed. She lost it; she was so mad that she pushed everyone away. She said she could not trust a human. It hurt, but I understood it. I waited for her by the pond, we used to swim in on the mountain. She came yelled and pushed me; only, I hit my head when I fell into the pond. Risa pulled me out, but I had stopped breathing. She used some magic, or something, I am not sure, and I came back. But, I was dead for that small amount of time,” he said.
“Then, it would have woken some of your reaper skills,” Nightmare said.
“Did she forgive you?” Elella asked.
Ben looked at his mum. “She still did not want me around. She also said, ‘now she was too deadly to be around.’ After that my dad…I mean my fake dad,” he said, holding his hands up for Nightmare had growled and was coming at him. Ben backed up.
“Never call him that again. You are my son—mine! My flesh and blood!” He growled and pulled Ben close and hugged him. “My son,” he said in a low voice.
Ben hugged him back. “Sorry—habit, anyway, yes the fake one did not like how close I was to Risa. He took to beating me, trying to ‘beat her wickedness out of me’ as he called it. Over time, he said he would kill her if he saw me with her. So, I was weak; I gave in and backed away, so when Risa came looking for me years later, I sent her away and was so mean to her,” he said sadly.
Nightmare let his son go and looked into his eyes. “Then, you better make it up to her, Son. A man must never be cruel to his mate,” he said.
Ben nodded. “I plan on it,” he said earnestly.
“Let’s get to work,” Nightmare said. Ben looked at his mum, but she was gone. He frowned but focused back on his dad. It was time to learn one-half of his powers.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Hellion made his way closer to town. He did not understand why everyone was just hanging about. Their Risa was in trouble, and they did nothing. He would not take it lying down. He would find her, claim her and bring her home. Okay, maybe not in that order; after all, he did not think she would want him to fuck her where she had been taken—but still. He made his way through the trees, his eyes scanning for clues, his ears pricked for any sound around him. When he made it to the edge of town, he stopped; now, this would be tricky. He did not want to give himself away. If someone saw a hellcat in town, the people who took Risa may link him to her. He sat down and huffed; he knew what he had to do, but did not like it. He only liked being human around Risa; without her, he did not see the point. Sighing, he shifted into his human form. He then leaned on a tree and closed his eyes. He let his magic run over him and shivered. He hated shifting to his human form, but it had to be done. Risa once said his kind looked like demons in their human form, mainly it was the eyes. Black where it should be white, with flaming pupils—he could see where people got the idea from. All he needed was horns or black wings, and he would be set.
He shook himself off. He nearly looked like—well, a normal person. His eyes were a soft green, and his hair a deep brown. He hated it; he felt odd as he was now shorter too. “I hate magic,” he muttered to himself as he went into town. Hell beings could use magic to change the way they looked. It helped them to hide in plain sight, but Hellion hated doing it. He had done it once to spy on Risa when they were kids. She had seen right through it and had not spoken to him for a week.
He walked through the small village and looked around, grinning as he saw he blended in nicely. He bent his head and walked on. Being around so many humans made him remember why he liked his cat form. They were so boring and annoying. He could hear and smell them so well. He looked around, trying to pick up anything which would lead him to where his beloved was, his sweet Risa. He smiled, he would find her and become her favourite for sure, he thought as he made his way through the village.
Risa was not happy as she walked the floor. She was getting bored and hated being stuck in one place. “Sit down, Angel; you are wearing a hole in the floor,” Osta said, giggling to himself.
Nicho looked at Risa and rolled his eyes. “How do you put up with him?” he asked. “He has been driving me nuts,” he went on whimpering, which only made Risa chuckle.
“You get used to it; plus, I now have to put up with a nutso twin too,” she said and frowned when Osta looked at her, scowling.
“What happened to Prince?” he asked.
“It seems that the magic he was hit with, twisted him, and he fully lost it when he thought I was dead,” Risa said, shrugging as she looked towards the door, a look of concentration on her face.
“You can not break it,” Osta said, leaning back.
Risa walked to the door and stared into the lock. Humming softly, she pulled something from her hair—a long pin. When she saw Osta’s surprised look, she smirked. “Don’t you remember? You told me once as a kid to never leave home without a long pin,” she said, winking. She giggled to herself now when Osta just blushed. Risa pushed the pin into the door lock, humming as she wiggled and twisted it. She then took a deep breath and blew into the hole. She grinned more when a small shot of fire blasted into the hole; then, there was a click. “Hey, who knew being a dragon would help with breaking into places?” she said softly.
“Out of places, you mean?” Nicho said, grinning as he and Osta walked over. “Well, normally, I would say ladies first, but in this case, let me,” Nicho said and pulled the door open.
The three of them walked out, keepi
ng an eye on their surroundings. “This place stinks,” she said as they moved down the passageway.
“Shhh,” both men said back, making Risa pout, but she did shut her mouth. She did not want them to be found, after all. That cell was annoying, to say the least. She took the pin, which was now a bit burnt, and placed it back, hidden, into her hair. They walked down the passageway and found no one. Risa frowned, looking around; just then, she heard a noise. It was a moan then a whimper. She stopped and listened, the guys walked on, not paying her any mind. Risa moved to the side and saw another door and looked into the hole in it. She gasped, which did get the two guys’ attention. They spun and raced back to her.
“Risa, we need to move,” Nicho said.
Osta, on the other hand, looked into the hole and blinked. “She looks like you,” he whispered, “or a younger you, anyway.”
Risa looked at the girl who was sat on the bed, she was hugging her knees head down. She did look like Risa, but the longer she looked, the more she saw something different. The hair was very light blue. Then, the girl looked up. Risa blinked. In place of her own ice blue eyes were soft brown ones. She looked at this girl who looked like a mix of her and Ben. She did not understand how she could be; then, she froze as a memory came back to her. When Risa had turned 18, she had gone into town to get a drink. Her first one as an adult, but she did not remember much about that night, other than flashes and smells and white and pain. Risa backed away, her hand going to her mouth. The girl was about 2 or 3, maybe. Risa was not sure, but she did know one thing, that child was hers. She took a deep breath.
“Risa, is that...” Osta asked.
“I believe so. Three years ago, when I turned 18, I got blackout drunk. I always thought it was odd, for any other time, after I could handle more drinks than any human. I don’t remember much of that night but for pain and white. Now, I think they took something from me,” she said, her voice low and cold at the thought t they had taken her eggs, but how? How did one take a female's eggs without leaving a mark?
“They most likely used black magic, if that was the case,” Nicho said.
Risa looked at him. “We need to take her with us,” she said and walked to the door. She looked through the keyhole, but the girl was gone. She blinked, frowning, then yelped when something hit the door.
“Go away, you dodo head! I don’t care! I will not give you anything!” came a small voice. Risa smirked; her kid had fire; it seemed. Risa bent down and once again pulled the pin from her hair. Only Osta pulled her back; he then roundhouse kicked the door, and it flew open.
The girl inside screamed, and Risa growled. “What are you trying to do, scare her?” she snapped, then huffed when something hit her. She looked down to see the girl hugging her. “Mummy, you came at last. The fox said you would come one day,” the girl said, crying loudly.
Risa bent. “Shhh,” she said, hugging the girl close, her own eyes filling with tears. “We need to leave, and we need you to be very quiet, so we can get away,” Risa said and watched shocked as the girl nodded and shut up.
“I know I must be very quiet,” the girl said. Risa took a better look at her. For her age, the girl looked very grown-up. Her hair was long and soft, but her eyes hid wisdom far beyond her years. The girl also was holding something back, and it took Risa a second to work it out—power. This child had power and was hiding it very well. “It seems you have a better handle over your powers than your daddy does,” Risa said, smugly.
The girl grinned. “I had help from the fox,” the girl said and took Risa’s hand as they headed back down the hall.
Osta and Nicho were left behind, shocked. “That’s it? No questions? No worries? Just go?” Nicho asked.
“Well, it is Risa. She always did take things well and was known for being able to hold back. And, if that girl is Risa’s, which I am sure she is, then she seems to have her mother’s thought waves. Let’s go, or they will leave us behind,” Osta said, giggling and raced off after them.
Nicho just shook his head. Why did he have to deal with this? He now wished he had let Wolf handle it all, but shrugging it off, he took off after them as well, hoping to be free soon.
Risa looked around the passageway and sighed. They were going around and around, she was sure of it. She had taken to marking the walls with her hairpin. When she passed her mark once again, she stopped. “Something is up; we are just going in circles, but yet, there are no turn-offs,” she said, looking around.
Nicho and Osta sat down, sighing. “This is getting us nowhere. No wonder there are no people around. Even if someone does break free, they cannot get out!” Nicho said, lying down, huffing.
“We need to find something; I am sick of being here,” Osta growled. He was losing his mind. He needed to get Risa and the child away safe.
Risa looked at the girl, who was calm. “Do you have a name?” she asked.
“Nothing I want to be called,” the girl said, making Risa smirk. She sat down, and at once, found her lap filled with the little girl. He held her close, taking a deep breath; she felt so happy right now. Her child...yes; she had missed her first years, but she would keep her child safe now.
“Okay, how about I give you a name?” Risa asked and started to think. She looked into her daughter’s soft brown eyes and smiled. “How about Elizabeth?” she asked. The girl grinned, and Risa caught her breath; she was just so cute.
“Yes, yes, yes!” Elizabeth said, happily hugging her mum.
Elizabeth watched the grown-ups, huffing now as she did, thinking how they sounded a bit like children themselves, or at least the men did. She had a name, at last, one given to her by her mummy. She looked up at her mum, who was calm, unlike the guys who seemed to be about to pull their hair out.
“Told you she would love you on sight,” a voice spoke in Elizabeth’s head
“I know you did, Fox, thank you. Are you going to leave me now?” she spoke back and waited.
“No, I will always be at your side, Bunny; maybe, one day we will meet,” the voice was gone.
Elizabeth knew he would not reply, so she did not bother to speak again. She just leaned back and waited for the grown-ups to work out what to do.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lady Elella walked down the hall, stopping when she found who she wanted. “You know your rage is not helping matters, don’t you?” she asked, smiling as Zuko turned to her. His eyes were black, but she did not fear him. She walked over and blinked when he backed away. “Now, now, don’t worry. I am not going to hurt you,” she said calmly but blinked when once again, Zuko moved away from her. She looked at him; his face had changed, gone was the darkness; in its place was a blush. “Are you...blushing?” she asked softly.
Zuko growled. “No, of course not,” he snapped and turned his back. “What do I do? She is a woman. I only know how to deal with Risa. What do I do? Do I touch her? No, that is wrong; maybe, I just stay away…yes, away, that is good. Why is Risa not here to help me?” Zuko said, not realizing he was talking out loud.
Elella had to cover her mouth to stop from laughing. This boy who had the power to burn down the world was now not able to deal with a woman without his sister around.
“Zuko, dear, just treat me like you would Risa,” she said. She blinked when Zuko laughed darkly.
“No one can be Risa. She is the person who is my light. She is good and wonderful; she is the moon, where I am but a lowly wolf, wanting to bask in her light, unable to warm my soul to feel whole,” he said, his face taking on the softest smile Elella had ever seen. “Risa is everything,” he said. He looked at Elella. “Plus, I am told I am too close to Risa. I don’t think your mate would like it,” he said, then when his eyes landed on her, he blushed again and turned his back. Elella wondered what he would do if she walked up behind him and hugged him smiling she did just that. She jumped then because in place of Zuko was a kitten who hissed at her. “Don’t touch me; only Risa can hug me, woman,” came Zuko’s voice, and he raced away.
>
Elella blinked slowly.
“Sorry about that,” came another voice. She turned to see the elf walking towards her.
“You are Forrester, right?” she asked, meeting his gaze.
“I am. As I said, sorry about Zuko; he does not handle people well.” He smiled sadly.
“Well, his mind is broken; it is not too shocking,” Elella said.
Forrester shook his head. “Oh no, Zuko could not handle people when he was sane. He always followed Risa; she took the lead, and he followed. She had always been his everything. Zuko does not care for anything but her; even as a child, he put her first. He would keep her safe, and even try and take the blame for things she did wrong,” he said, watching her face.
“So, you mean Risa used him? How mean!” Elella said, but once again, Forrester shook his head.
“No, she did not. When she found out he’d done it, she would tell him off and make sure she got punished. Risa would never use Zuko,” he continued, walking over to her. “But, I would be careful around him. Right now, he is deadly as he only sees Risa. Being split from her for so long made his madness worse; only Risa can calm him.” Without another word, he left Elella standing there, feeling very confused.
“Mummy,” a small voice came from behind her. She turned to see Amber and Ember watching her. “Are you okay? You seem out of it,” Amber said, skipping over, her long white hair flying out behind her as if a soft wind was blowing.
“No, dear, just trying to get used to others is all. The people around your brother are all, well, interesting, to say the least,” she said, smiling. She was worried Zuko did not seem like a good soul, but at the same time, he did. He could go either way, but she would hold her judgment until she had seen him with his sister. After all, with Risa gone, it must be hard for him.
She jumped when Ember came alongside her and touched her arm. “He is good, Mama; I spoke to this Zuko earlier. I was in my shadow form, so he did not seem to mind talking to a girl, seeing as he could not touch me anyway. He is trying so hard to stay sane to make his sister proud. He is a good boy, just broken and in need of mending,” she said happily. Elella smiled, watching the girls run away. Sighing, she shook her head. “Why could I not have a child who would stay and chat, not just give their thoughts and run off,” she asked herself, grinning.
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