Phoenix:
Shouting echoed in the manor, people shouting for me to go to the beach. Sprinting towards the sands with Tiger by my side, horror mixed with panic at a limp Ellie laying in the sand. An inky mess stained the sand around her, my eyes falling on her metallic leg. Gears clicked, her creation magic running the mechanics. Paralyzed by the shock of her having to cut off her leg, Tiger shouted at me to snap out of his, his arms holding the bleeding Ellie. Rushing her back to the house, he skidded to a stop in front of his girlfriend's house. Tears poured from his eyes, his fist banging desperately on the door. His love for his sister was evident in the way his eyes welled up.
"Open up, Salvy! I need you to help heal her! My little sis needs help!" He pleaded through a wall of tears, his lips quivering in response to his sister suffering. "She has been stabbed, I think. Please, I need you!" Ripping open the door, her teal curls bounced with each fleeting glance between Tiger and me. Yanking us in, her silky light blue nightgown floated with each step. Laying her down on her bed, the blood wouldn't stop flowing. Tying her hair into a messy bun, she pushed us away.
"The stab wounds are the lightest of her problems. I need you two to give me space to heal her organs." She ordered sharply, the two of us stepping back. "Where did that laggard go? I could use a couple of its scales. Bewilderment twisted our features, white ribbons of light danced around her. A young laggard scurried up her arm with a dozen scales in its mouth, her palms accepting the gift graciously. Crushing them with her fingers, the ribbons took a violet hue. Rubbing her palms on her wounds, a violet light sealed her wounds shut. Hovering her hand over to her stomach, her lips were moving a mile a minute. Swaying slightly, Tiger caught her in his big arms. The ribbons faded away, Ellie stirring in her sleep. Curling into a ball, my mother burst through the door with my old man on her tail. Argon cooed in my old man's arms, my mother fussing over her. Tucking her hair behind her ear, her hand slid down to her metal leg. Examining it gingerly, her shaking fingers lifted up her hem gingerly. Letting out a tiny yelp, burn scars covered her rest of her legs. How did my wife manage to lose a leg in a day? Surely, my mother would know.
"Bloodvanya hit her with cursed lightning." Her voice trembled, her jaw dropping at the flawless seam. "She cut off her own leg to stop it from devouring her body. Who taught Ellie creation magic?" Crouching down to the metal, a short gasp escaped my lips. This was the ancient magic of the tribe we helped out, the Earth magic molding the metal into what she needed. Truthfully, it was a modified use of their magic. Guilt dimmed my eyes, my mother's hand resting on my shoulder. How could I let this happen to her? My only job was to protect her.
"She went off on her own." Her soft voice explained gently, the effect of her tone softening the blow. "If I know her as well as the back of my hand, the trip wasn't fruitless. You should ask her when she wakes up. Nicely, might I add. This work is marvelous. Her magic moves the gears." Flickers leapt through the open window, her tail twitching irritably. Standing at the end of the bed, her whiskers bounced up and down. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed, her sharp eyes falling on me.
"The wings were destroyed along with her book. She weakened Bloodvanya to her level. She can't even invade her dreams anymore." She growled through gritted teeth, her paw grazing the metal on her leg. "Why would she do that all by herself? Who the hell is that?" Pointing to the laggard on Tiger's shoulder, jealousy burned in her eyes. Curious as she was, that question would have to wait until she wakes up. Taking my seat by her side, her hand cupped mine in her sleep. Happy to see that she was doing well enough to fall asleep, sleep had a habit of running from her.
"If she destroyed that book, then Bloodvanya isn't going to let up." My old man mumbled under his breath, his lips brushing against Argon's head. "That book had the original dark spells. That had kept her going until this point. Her life is short. Can you show me her chest?" Opening up her chest, a blackened scar took up half of her chest.
"The lightning wasn't cursed. That fucking hit was the curse. Her father fought against her. She was in our friend group. The three of us ran together until she found that damn book. Slowly but surely the darkness swallowed her whole." He explained with a dejected smile, a long story hiding underneath the bright twinkle in his eyes. "We all got into a squabble and her father ripped off her wings. She ran off before we could talk to her. Later on, that bitch placed a curse on me. Revenge will be the only thing on her mind." Groaning awake, Ellie's attempt to sit up resulted in her crashing back down. Laying down was all I could think of in my mind.
"Your body is severely injured." Salvy slurred tiredly, her eyebrows twitching. "I need you to understand that the curse only affected where her lightning hit. That salt diamond saved your ass. What the hell were you doing on your own anyway!" A sad smile dawned on her face, her arms unable to move. Knowing her reason wasn't valid, my tough gaze fell on her.
"I only did what needed to be done. Only I could enter. I had to reap a soul, anyways." She whispered in a raspy voice, a coughing fit resulting in blood painting her palm. "I think I cut where the curse was the worst. My leg began to decay. Her lightning ball must have destroyed my leg enough to allow the curse to take over." Coughing up more blood, she curled into a ball. My anger faded away at her condition, our priority was to get her some medical help.
"It sucks that I can't move. I think I need a couple of days off from everything." She joked lightly, her fingers playing with her hair. "I am sorry but my father sent me at the last second. I should have expected her to show up. How stupid can one person be?" Hovering my hand over, the word sleep poured from my lips. Falling back asleep, Flickers curled up next to her. Stepping out of the room to gather my wits, Tiger was on my heels. Looking concerned a me, he leaned on my shoulder. Happy that his sister was safe, I needed to go talk to someone. Walking briskly onto the street, my feet pounded towards our home. Brushing past everyone, I had my own trick up my sleeve. Shifting through my trunk, my fingers curled around a one time key to anywhere. The trip would allow me back in one day, a low growl rumbling in my throat. Unlocking the closet door, the snowy landscape of the reapers greeted my eyes. Bursting through his home, the rules could go screw themselves. Flames leapt ten feet into the air, my big hand pinning him to the wall.
"Where do you get off sending her somewhere without any help, you freaking idiot!" I roared thunderously, his claws digging into my hand. "Cut the shit and get to talking!" Her mother wandered in, a letter of permission fluttered into my palm. Tucking it into his pocket, his hisses only angered me further.
"Did you know she came back with stab wounds to the side and a metal leg, you freaking prick head!" I continued venomously, a bit of regret dimming his furious glare. "Never mind the fact that I had to scoop her off the beach like a piece of trash!" Throwing him onto his bed, their relationship made sense now. Collecting my temper, my patience was still worn rather thin. Sitting by the roaring flames, they flared up with my increase in frustration. Our conversation wasn't done, his tiny body landing on my lap.
"I didn't think that she was going to get hurt that badly. She usually is smarter than that. Something must have thrown her off of her game." He uttered simply, his words causing my temper to flare. Was he not paying attention? Ever since she gave birth, her whole mind had been out of whack. His death sent her over the edge, her heart aching for him everyday. Raising my voice, he shrank back.
"Your death threw her off! Her birth threw her off!" I countered with a snarl on my lips, his ears pinning back. "Visiting is nice but I can't understand what happened to her. She didn't even have the will to care that she was bleeding out! Maybe you should apologize! She won't stop crying in her spare time. Her attempts to hide it are always piss poor." Shame mixed with guilt, his paw resting on my shaking hand. Why was I letting it all out on him? My own emotions had my head spinning around, the lack of an ability to help Ellie threatened to destroy me from the inside.
"I can't help you there even though I was alive. Ask her what happened. Surely, she would talk to you." He suggested with a warm smile, an apology resting on my tongue. "You don't need to apologize, most of this is my fault. I would get yourself ready for a furious wife because they sent her to collect you." The color drained from my face, the door bursting open. Pinning us both the wall, her ears pinning back. Her tail twitched with anger, her sharp tone silencing us both. Trouble arrived, both of us shrinking back.
"I got woken up by the head reaper because my assistant left without me!" She barked furiously, blood pouring from the corner of her mouth and eyes. "I could barely stand and I had to argue with him for the past hour! Fuck you both!" Sinking to her knees, fresh blood coated her hands with a coughing fit. Inky blood stained her side, every breath growing harder. Using her scythe to bring herself to her feet, the way she leaned on it was frightening me. Passing out into my arms, a rough darkness had stolen her away. Laying her on the bed, a fever burned her cheeks. The curse had her suffering once more, the cure was back home.
"How do I get us back?" I demanded urgently, her limp body not moving. I need to get her back to her-" Rosy Jack entered with his assistant, a vial of concentrated glowing liquid spinning in his palm. Tossing it to me, he spun on his heels. Calling out for him to stop, he glanced back with a quiet smile.
"You called through your mind. Luckily, I was doing a job and could stop by. Give that to her, let her rest and come back in the next couple of days. I am already on call for her job. Good luck with all of that." He chuckled lightly, motioning towards her shaking father and me. "Get along like a happy little family and get over whatever issues you are having. Excuse me, I have twice the work load today." Pushing the door open, he was gone in a second. Laying her down on the bed, the thick liquid poured down her throat. Swallowing it in one gulp, the fever faded away. Collapsing into the nearest chair, her mother laid down next to her. Turning over to snuggle with her mom, purrs were soon mixing with the crackling flames. Curling into a ball around her mother, Flames' tail tucked between his legs. Low growls rumbled in his throat, his paw tapping the bed incessantly.
"You would have died if you went. I saw the vision yesterday. Then I saw how she gave up after you were gone. I couldn't let that happen. I saw the giant lizard creature carrying her to that witch's wings and book. That was all I saw. I never wanted her to lose her leg or get gravely injured. Bloodvanya hid herself from my vision." He hissed furiously, his tongue licking his paw. "That being said, she is at her level now." Rolling my eyes, fingers played with the hem of my shirt. His actions had a purpose but that didn't excuse the result.
"Tell me everything you know what about Bloodvanya so I can help her win." I sighed with a warm smile, the argument now squashed temporarily. "I don't want her to do anything alone again. We can kill her together but I can't do that without your help. Shifting uncomfortably, his wife motioned for him to speak. He owed every ounce of every information that he fucking had for his ill planned actions.
"We were a group of friends as you already know. She loved me but I didn't love her back. Her mother had stolen my heart at that point. What she wants is to become a reaper and she can't. We are born not made. Succumbing to her madness, I was the one who had to rip off her wings and steal her book. I hid them with those nice creatures in the hopes that someday my little kitten would burn it all down." He admitted shamefully, pawing at the bed. "We failed to stop her. I can't believe it all falls on her again. I am a horrible f-'' Putting my hand up in the air, he didn't need to be so hard on himself. Everything he did was to take care of her, not the other way around. My father was an abusive monster to me, his love for her earning my respect once more. Laying down next to her, snores whistled in the air. Staring out the window, reapers of all kinds chatted pleasantly, the community really looking like paradise. My heart sank for her, knowing that she would never get her happy ending. Being immortal had its perks but the downside was a huge price to pay. We would always lose our friends, the loneliness finding its way back to us. Haunted by the thought of all the friends I lost, their final moments broke me each time. Little Vera would be tainted with the same curse, my hands crossing. Death seemed like a sweet reprieve, my mind wandering to how warm Heaven felt when I received that information. Tasting it was like rubbing salt in the wound, a young reaper waved at me through the window. Visiting with his parents, his smile never left his face.
"A reaper's life is full of sadness and broken promises." A gruff voice grumbled tiredly, a hooded figure letting himself in. Taking the seat next to me, a glowing ball of fire floated behind him. Lowering his hood, a chill shot up my spine. Milky smoke hovered in front of me, Death himself was sitting across from me, his presence had me shaking in my boots. Pressing his smoking hands together, his ruby eyes met mine.
"I appreciate you accepting your immortality. Some of us have to live through the pain. I am Death by the way." He introduced himself kindly, watching out the window. "I gave her immortality because her plans are far too big to be disrupted by death itself. You got it because you were always meant to be with her." Struggling to speak, his warmth contradicted death itself. Staring at the same scene of families visiting each other, he rested his head on his hands
"I am so happy she is the new goddess. We are going to change things. I am sick of wars and such things. Peace isn't that hard. Sure, accidents will happen but these damn angels are breathing down my neck for another war. I can't stand it." He continued serenely, his ruby eyes falling on my trembling body. "Calm down. You know that I will never be coming for you." Telling me to relax was one thing but Death himself was sitting across from me.
"What." I mumbled under my breath, the chair groaning as he rose to his feet. Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, his fingers traced the bells. Wishing that he would stop, his sharp eyes picked up my expression. Floating towards the door, he was gone in seconds.Shook to my core, it was shocking that Death had the time to visit me. Ellie stirred awake, her feet hitting the floor. Stumbling over to me, her body felt hot against my skin. A bit of the fever remained, a bit of hatred burning in my eyes. Burying her face into my shoulder, her groggy voice had my ears pinning back.
"Did I miss Death again? He said that he would be coming by to visit soon." She yawned adorably, wrapping her arms around my neck. "Thank you for yelling at my dad for me. I didn't have the heart too. I love him too much." Her body felt so small in my arms, her ears tickling my chin. Embracing her in a gentle response, her black bags hollowed out her eyes. Seeing her so honest had me wishing that this moment would never end, the relaxed smile was a rare one. Falling back into a deep slumber, the way her tongue stuck out had stolen my heart once more. Humming a song from my homeland, purrs bounced off the walls. The words of protection helped her slip into a deeper but safe slumber, the scent of Flickers was in the air. Tears welled up in my eyes, my sanity was beginning to slip again. Salty tears hit the top of her head, her ears flicking wildly, the fear of losing my life sending me to a dark space. The familiar fear of screwing up hunted my brain, my father's screaming voice bouncing around my head had the color draining from my face. Kissing the top of her head, her mother stirred awake. Leaping onto my shoulder, her rough tongue licked my cheek.
"Rough childhood?" She asked in a motherly tone, her tail dancing gracefully. "I can smell the trauma on you. Take a deep breath and remember that you have us. You will have to forgive my husband, he is a ditz at the worst of times. You really are more like your mother. You are stronger than me for letting him back into your life. I was hoping to be alive to see you play and grow up together." Chuckling jovially, her paw rested on her head. She had nothing to worry about, my heart aching for her.
"This one is just like her father, wild and impulsive at the worst times. They gave me all this white fur after all." She joked with a crooked grin, tears sliding down my cheeks. "You are doing perfect, my dear child. Cheer up and enjoy life. It is quite giving when you finally see the light." Patting the top of her head, her words snapped from my downward spiral. Letting her regale me with memories of a young Ellie, the evening had me back to a good place. Wishing more days like this would come, our new goal was this for everyone.