Genovi:
Watching her interact with our guests, you wouldn't know that she had a panic attack seconds ago. My old man kept people happy with the crepes, the music stopping. Now was when my sound system failed me, everyone watching as Celly walked over to the piano we used for a show every now and then. The first few notes of Fur Elise floated out underneath her fingers, the guests gasping in wonder. This must have been a skill that her family forced her to learn for the parties, something waking up in her. Her real smile illuminated her face, a ring of yellow lining her aura. Pride swelled in my chest, my old man stepping up next to me. A matching look of bewildered wonder flitted between us, polite claps bouncing off the wall. Moving onto the violin, she cleared her throat.
"I wrote this song in memory of my dad. I call it the Winter of Hope." She explained serenely, bowing in their direction. "He taught me how to paint, and play music. We had a shit ton of fun doing both. What can I say? I am my father's daughter. Are you guys ready? Listen up from Heaven, my dear father." Tuning the violin, a couple of warm up chords later resulted in a moment of silence. Light notes filled the air, the image of a pleasant winter day playing out in my mind. The image of a six year old Celly danced around with her dad, his smile as bright as her. The music darkened, an ominous tone haunted the once happy song. The scene dimmed in my mind, a broken Celly laid on his grave. Playing the last note, more claps snapped me back to reality. Where did her music take me?
"I have one more song to play and it is dedicated to my husband." She sang adorably, tuning her violin again. "I hope he likes it. I hope he sees the personality in the notes. I call it Lunar Love." Drawing on the bow on the strings, scarlet colored my cheeks. Warm notes filtered into the air, her eyes never leaving mine. The music slowed to a sweet lullaby, several phones beginning to film her. Shifting through different rhythms, the chaotic music drifted between each other. My eyes welled up with tears, each change marking a different stage of our relationship. Time stopped at the last part of her song, long notes reminded me of our evenings under the moonlight. Finishing up, she bowed once more. Setting down the violin, the music came back on. A thousand alerts blew up my phone, the video of her playing my song popped up on my social media page. Checking her phone, her face fell. Mumbling under her breath, her heels clicked towards me. This was the phantom situation all over again.
"How did you learn to play like that?" I questioned with my usual crooked grin, her hands intertwining with mine. "Seriously, you could be in a concert hall." Shrugging her shoulders, this seemed like nothing to her.
"I only did what anybody else would do." She uttered simply, examining her red fingertips. "I used to play for the weddings in my clan. My dad was the greatest musician in the world. If he wasn't an Alpha, we could have toured the world together. He hated being Alpha because it prevented him from leaving. I always felt bad for his lack of freedom. Come with me." Guiding me to the storage downstairs, she shifted through the paintings. Picking up a framed one, she undid the back. Numbered sheet music fluttered to the ground, her slender fingers organizing it.
"These are all of the songs he wrote. He never got to release them." She sighed dejectedly, scanning the notes. "Can we get a piano for me to practice at home? I forgot how much I loved playing." My breath hitched, this was the first thing she asked for. Panic gripped her face, her hands waving around. Crap! This wasn't the reaction that I was hoping for.
"I am sorry that I asked." She squeaked out shamefully, her bangs hiding her eyes. "It was really selfish of me to ask." Lifting her chin up with my finger, her eyes refused to look at mine. Why was she so concerned with it? Sighing to myself, the punishment must have been severe if she asked for something during her childhood.
"This is the first thing you have asked for. I will get you a piano. Maybe we could go shopping together for one with the kiddos. Would you like to do that tomorrow?" I offered kindly, her face lighting up. "I am happy to give you anything you want. All you have to do is ask. It makes me feel better when you require something of me." Leaping into my arms, she draped hers around my neck. Kissing me feverishly, a dazed look came over my face. My old man cleared his throat, his eyes rolling. The rest of the night passed without a hitch, an exhausted Celly rested in the passenger's seat. Staring out the window, something was eating at her.
"What the heck is eating at you?" I questioned with quiet distress, her eyes meeting mine. "You really can't lie to me." Flashing her a crooked grin, her fingers played with the hem of her dress. Wait a minute, the way her fingers moved reminded me of her piano playing. Is that what she was doing the whole time?
"I simply realized how much I missed music. How stupid of me. So many of my days were spent on a piano bench by my father. Those days made me really happy. His love took all of the fear away from me." She gushed through a wall of tears, her fingers stopping. "He took videos of me but I don't know where my mother hid them. I always kept an eye out for them but I could never find them. Oh well." Sinking into another large zone out, her mental status scared me. Hearing her scream out of nowhere scared the shit of me, not to mention the severe damage to the tiles in the bathroom. The thing that struck me the most was the fact that she smelled terrified the whole time, my hand reaching for hers.
"What did you see? Were you having hallucinations?" I queried cautiously, Celly still deep in her zoned out head space. "Celly!" Snapping her head in my direction, a sullen apology left her lips. Taking a deep breath to collect my brewing frustration, it was time to ask again.
"Did you see hallucinations!" I roared a little louder than I wanted too, another point of concern haunting my mind. "You weren't even excited when you heard the amount of money you made. I find it hard to believe that you are okay." Taking a minute to settle down her nerves, her hands trembled violently. Glancing back at the slumbering security team, the corner of her lips quivered.
"I saw an evil version of Saint and then a bloody version of your mother. On top of that it was raining blood. The bloody version of your mother followed me to the bathroom and was about to stab me." She admitted gloomily, moving her fingers along the keys of a piano. "I am sorry for seeing hallucinations. Whenever I close my eyes I see Hell. I wish life would stop traumatizing the shit out of me. That would be lovely." Laying her head on the window, her snores echoed in the car. The image of a frightened Celly haunted me, her claws had been dug into the tile. The raw horror in her eyes shook me to my core, the fading memory of my bloody mother holding a knife planting itself in my head. What she didn't know was that I actually saw what she was seeing. Curious as to why, I dialed up my old man's number. The phone rang, his exhausted voice proving to be the thing I needed.
"You figured out how to dial a phone." He teased sarcastically, a fit of laughter seconds from bursting from my lips. "What do you need?" Clearing my throat, my next words were going to sound insane.
"I think she is seeing the ghosts of Saint and my mother." I blurted out awkwardly, Onyxio jerking awake. "I might be going insane but I don't think she is. If it was just in her head, I wouldn't have seen it." Leaning on the driver's seat, he spoke up before my old man could.
"For sure that is what is happening." He confirmed with certainty, fluffing his hair. "The only way for them to go away is for her to give up her guilt. If she doesn't get a handle on that, they will actually stab her. The danger is real. Did she see blood raining down?" Pensive silence hung between us, his brows furrowing.
"That's a bad sign." He continued briskly, texting his brother. "We are dealing with Lord Incubo, the master of nightmares. He isn't fun. He placed a curse on her, a rather ancient one. They call it the Trial of Guilt. No one has ever survived." Celly woke up with a shrill shriek, her eyes wide with terror. Clammy sweat drenched her skin, her fingers snatching Onyxio's tie.
"Tell me where to go to kill that bastard myself. This guilt is never going to g-" She began, a knife quivering in her shoulder. "Jesus fucking Christ! Stop the car, now." The brakes squealed to a halt on a shoulder, Celly jumping out. Screaming into the sky, we all watched uncomfortably as she lost her shit.
"Get your ass up here, Lord Incubo. I wish to make a deal to end this." She demanded hotly, her brow twitching. "I am guilty as hell and you know that." Ripping the knife from her shoulder, storm clouds brewed, drops of blood painted the car. Rough gusts knocked her hair out of her bun, the rose floating to the ground. Ruby stained her hair, a tall slender man stepped out from the treeline. His leather coat fluttered in the breeze, Saint and my mother walked behind him on chains. His long maroon hair danced in the wind, his inky eyes boring into her defiant eyes. A curved blade bounced off of his belt, strange symbols lined the blade. Scarlet stained the worn wooden handle, panic gripping her face. Her magic refused to work, Incubo dropping the chains. Both spirits charged at her, the blade trembling in her palm. Facing her guilt like the hero she was, she yanked off her heels. Tossing them to the side, her foot knocked the blade out of Saint's hand. The blade flipped into the air, blood now soaking her to the bone. Attempting to get out to help her, the locks refused to budge.
"You can't enter the battle. She is facing her guilt." Onyxio growled through gritted teeth, my old man cursing over the phone. "Today she will either die or survive. Only then will her powers come back. We must watch her now." The wipers flicked the blood off, my lock clicking. The door opened, a slender hand pulled me out. Tossing me into a puddle of blood, Incubo towered over me. Fuming over my ruined suit. My door slammed shut, the others getting trapped in.
"I can't believe I am saying this. I want her to win. I have always had a fondness for her. No matter how bad my nightmares got, she powered through." He exclaimed with anticipation, offering me his hand. "I feel like I have watched her grow up." Accepting it cautiously, he yanked me up. Pulling an umbrella from his belt, he popped it open. Motioning for me to step under, the one thing I could do was listen to him. Sparks drifted aimlessly, their blades clashing violently.
"I am surprised you are so kind." I pointed out simply, his shoulders shrugging. "What is the point of nightmares anyway?" Cupping his mouth, her golden eyes widened at the sound of his next words.
"You have this, Celly. Kick their ass!" He cheered with a bright smile, waving in her direction. Shooting him a thumbs up, my eyes narrowed in his direction. What the hell was their connection? Ribs cracked the moment Celly's heel smashed into them both.
"Screw you both! I said that I am sorry many times! When is it going to be enough!" She bellowed over the gusts, spinning a couple of blades in her palms. "Saint, you sacrificed yourself! Mother, you had fatal cancer. The reaper was already waiting for you. Don't you dare blame me for your deaths!" Their lips moved, her confidence fading slightly.
"I helped her through the tough times. My nightmares wouldn't affect her, so we chatted for a bit." He chuckled warmly, Saint stabbing her in the shoulder. "All the wounds healed the moment she wins. I can hear your mind going crazy. I pinned this curse on her so she can face her guilt. I know it seems cruel but nothing else was working. I need her head clear when she faces the Dark One." Stabbing Saint in the top of the head did nothing, his hand curling around her wrists. Tossing her onto the ground, a severely wounded Celly couldn't move. They towered over her, her fingers twitching sporadically.
"She asked for this, didn't she?" I grumbled under my breath, already knowing the answer. "Why?" Sighing while rubbing his forehead, he seemed equally as annoyed with her. Rolling his eyes, a snarl twitched on his lips. He really did care for her, my heart matching his sentiments.
"You can't let us go!" Saint roared in her face, gripping her throat. "Let your guilt eat you alive. I bet your plan to force this curse on you is backfiring." Maniacal laughter erupted from her lips, her knee pressing into his chest. Bewilderment built in his eyes, her hands curling around her eyes. No fear showed in her eyes, neither of us wondering whether it was death or them not frightening her. My mother swung a blade towards her skull, my heart seconds from beating out my chest. How could she be so fucking calm? Catching her hands, their eyes watched her with a moment of apprehension.
"I can't seem to place where your hatred is for me but I didn't kill either of you." She growled through gritted teeth, seconds from losing her sanity. Choking on air, her fingers clawed at his strengthening grip. Holding up a shaking hand, her hand smashed into his chest. Ripping out his shriveled heart, a long sigh escaped her lips. Mouthing a silent spell, golden flames torched him. Gasping for air, she rolled onto the side. Pretending to crawl away, a silver blade peeked out from in between her fingers. Horror widened my eyes at her ripping my wife's head back by her hair, teardrops splashing into the rising level of blood. Kicking her to the ground, Celly pulled her into a desperate embrace. The energy shifted around my mother, her spirit returning to normal. The blood lightened to regular rain, her wounds healing. A healed Saint ran over to her, her hands rested on their shoulders.
"I need you two to actually go to Heaven. I am sorry that my guilt left you planted on Earth." She apologized profusely, tears welling up in my eyes. "I realize now that I couldn't help either of your guy's death. Listen, I want you two to go to Heaven and have the time of your afterlife." My mother cleared her throat, her arms wrapping around her neck. Silent tears streamed down her translucent cheeks, my own teardrops crashing to the ground.
"I love you with all of my heart." She sobbed softly, Celly crumbling in her arms. "You didn't do anything wrong. If I had just told you, you would have healed me. Let's go, Saint. We need to protect her from above." Releasing her, my mother walked up to me. Unable to control myself, her hand ruffled the top of my head.
"Novi, I am proud of you." She laughed serenely, my arms pulling her in for a loving embrace. "I have seen your little pups. They are adorable. Take care of my Celly for me. I love you." Watching my tears slide down her fading form, nothing in me wanted to let go.
"I love you, mom!" I blurted out brokenly, her cold lips brushing against my forehead. Fading into a ball of light, a bloody Celly limped over to us. Wiping away her tears, her arms curling around my waist. Resting her head on my chest, we watched two balls of lights dance into the storm clouds.
"I did it to free their souls." She sniffled with a kind smile, my arms draping over hers in response. "I didn't mean to scare you. They have been following me for months. Sorry." Squirming out of my arms, she leapt into Incubo's. Their connection was evident, the vibe between them reminded of an uncle with his niece.
"Thank you so much for helping me." She thanked him profusely, hugging him tighter. "Most of the guilt was me preventing them from actually getting into Heaven. You are so freaking amazing." A tender blush rose to his cheeks, the color nearly matching his hair. A pleasant conversation ensued, her genuine smile returning to her face. Her aura brightened as the load continued to be lifted off of her shoulders, a quiet smile dawned on my lips. This was the Celly I fell in love with, the brave little hero who would do anything for the people she loved. Dancing to the car, the trunk popped open. Lifting a large box from the car, she dropped it into Incubo's arms.
"These are your favorite snacks and drinks. All this is for you." She promised lovingly, his face brightening. "You help me, I help you. Make sure nobody steals it this time. Don't be a stranger and come by for dinner sometimes, 'kay? You are kind of like my uncle after all. I have to go home. See you soon." Hooking her elbow into mine, we splashed our way back to the car. Hopping in, her mood seemed better than it had in a while. Clipping in her seat belt, her loving gaze watched me climb into my seat.
"I wolf you, Novi." She gushed adorably, curling her fingers around my tie. "I wolf you more than the moon." Yanking me closer to her, her lips smashed against mine passionately. Time stopped, her tongue dancing with mine. Releasing me from her spell, a howl burst from my inner wolf. Settling back into her seats, she picked up a book. Burying her head into the words, no one protested the moment I let the radio cover the silence. Please keep helping her, my dear Moon Goddess. May good luck be in our favor.