The next day started peacefully, but I noticed Estella was smirking the entire morning. She had something planned and I had to find out what.
We all sat at the dining table together and ate breakfast that I cooked. Skittles and Reeses ate the cat food that Estella had prepared for them with bits of candy added since they also needed candy to retain their powers.
"So, you've been smiling the entire time you've been awake. Are you okay? You haven't used your creatures to scare me either." I said.
"I'm trying something new. If my demonic powers can't scare you, I'll try my hand at using angelic power to scare you." Estella said and waved her fork around with a loving smile at me.
Candy and I looked at each other then back at Estella.
"You realize that Angelic Abilities only make me stronger right? That's the entire reason why we have mostly angelic items in this apartment. We are literally at our strongest here or at Church." I said.
"I know~" Estella smiled and stood up then began to collect our empty plate. She kissed Candy's head then walked over to me to kiss my lips.
I kissed back and watched her walk to the kitchen. I stood up and looked at my watch. "I should get ready to head out. My dad needs my help today."
"Your father? It's been some time since I've last seen him. Take me with you." Estella said.
"I'm not gonna stop you from joining me. I'm sure my parents would enjoy the visit from you." I smiled and looked at Candy. "You wanna come too?"
"Yeah! I wanna meet Grandma and Grandpa!" Candy said excitedly.
I smiled and nodded. "Go get ready then."
"Okay!~" Candy hopped out of seat then hurried to her room.
"We're gonna need a bigger place. Babe, can you make that happen?" I asked.
"Of course, my love. I'll search for a few bigger places later today~" Estella said as she washed the dishes.
I smiled at her and placed my hands in my pockets. "Thank you, babe."
"Just being a good wife~" Estella smiled.
~~~~~
We had all gotten ready and prepared to leave the house. As I opened the door, I immediately got goosebumps and was met with an angel in the sky. It wasn't just any angel...it was a biblically accurate angel. The angel was a wheel within a wheel with eyes all over with six wings and their eyes stared directly at me.
I couldn't move...I wasn't able to move as I locked eyes with the Thrones. My heart felt like it had stopped beating for a second.
Candy couldn't see what I was looking at but knew I was starting at something. She touched my arm and felt it was cold. She seemed worried and noticed my entire arm had goosebumps. "Dad?"
Estella walked next to me and noticed my face of awe and fear then smirked. "Are you scared yet?"
I heard her voice but couldn't answer then finally moved and took a deep breath. "Be not afraid...Remember Luke 2:9-10. When an angel is present, they bring great news of joy for all the people."
The angel before me noticed I had calmed down and looked back at them without fear. They blessed me by empowering my Cross of Saint Michael only a bit then left.
"Seems like I finally got you..~" Estella said then kissed my cheek and left the apartment.
I watched Estella then looked at my shaking hand. "She has the power to summon The Thrones..? Who exactly is my wife..?"
Candy noticed I was still a bit shaken and noticed the goosebumps had went away. "Dad what did you see?"
I looked at Candy then smiled. "I saw a biblically accurate angel. My first biblically accurate angel."
Candy was in awe and stared at me. "Whoa! I want to meet one!"
"You will soon. For now, let's go." I said.
"Okay!~" Candy smiled and hurried after Estella.
I followed behind after Skittles and Reeses hurried after Candy. I locked the door and followed Candy and Estella. The one thing on my mind was seeing The Thrones with my own two eyes, an event not everyone gets to experience. I was still shaken up, but the fear within soon simmered down and I finally was able to truly calm down and regain my composure.
We got into my car and I drove off to my parents' house. As we drove there I had a sense of dread looming within me.
"I've always avoided coming back here after the events that happened. The area I grew up in used to be a benevolent area, but now the same joy is now replaced with Fear." I said.
"Is it because of Slender Man?" Candy asked.
"Mostly. After he burned down my school, everyone had blamed God for allowing it to happen. I never blamed God for anything that's happened to me and instead I called onto Him to give me strength to defeat these demons who are after me and Estella." I said as I kept driving.
"Can I get the full story?" Candy asked.
"Sure.." I smiled. "It happened 14 years ago..."
•14 Years Ago...•
I woke up in my bed and yawned then noticed a face on my ceiling then it jumped out at me. I gave no reaction and sat up then got out of bed.
"Oh come on! Are you serious?!" Estella asked as she walked out of my closet.
"You are one of the most unscary people I know. Can you go away now?" I asked then groaned as I walked to the bathroom.
"No! Not until I've scared you! You believe I am not legit!" Estella yelled and flailed her arms around in a circle.
I began to brush my teeth and wash my face. I freshened up and got ready for the day. I put on my uniform and went to my mom. "Good morning, Mom."
"Good morning, sweetie~ Ready for school?" She asked then sipped her coffee, ready for work.
I nodded. She smiled and ruffled my hair then grabbed her keys. She walked out the garage door and went to get the car started. I looked back and noticed Estella wasn't following me, thinking she had the memo by now. I left the house and got into the car with my mom so she could take me to school.
The school day was as boring as always but my friends were all there so it made school more bearable. Recess had started and my friends were playing together on the swings while I was hanging out with my crush at the time, playing Mario Kart on our DS. She heard her friends calling her name and she got up to go see what she wanted.
I heard someone calling my name and looked over to see it was Estella. I sighed and walked over to her. "What is it now?"
Estella smiled at me and wanted me to follow her. She walked off and I ended up following her since I did trust her despite her always trying to scare me and playing pranks on me. As I followed her, my DS began to glitch and the sound started to become distorted. We entered a forest and I got goosebumps on my arm.
I stopped walking and looked down. "You're not Estella."
Estella stopped walking and looked back at me. "So you caught on...but I am afraid that it's far too late for realization. I finally have my biggest target to myself."
I looked up and noticed the fake Estella had shapeshifted back into Slender Man. He used one of his tentacles to wrap around my neck and raised me off the ground. I grunted and gasped for air. I was powerless against Slender Man since I didn't know how to fight at all.
Suddenly, a line of light sliced off Slender Man's tentacle. I was released then Estella caught me by the collar of my shirt and gently set me down. She looked at Slender Man then glared.
"Estella Priscilla Aponius. The Nun from the Underworld, you saved this child? I thought you would have killed him by now." Slender Man said.
Estella looked down at me then looked at Slender Man. "I can't. He isn't afraid of me. I respect that enough to keep him alive, but I won't have anyone else killing him! I am now acting as his Guardian Angel! Demons like you will not be after his soul!"
I looked up at Estella in awe and stood up. I watched Estella dash toward Slender Man then the two clashed. Slender Man chuckled then pushed Estella back then used his tentacles to try and strike her. Estella blocked every tentacle then used her chain to whip Slender Man in his face. He groaned then grunted when he was hit with golden orbs of energy then an explosion happened.
Slender Man slid backwards then chuckled. His dark aura surrounded his body. He looked at Estella then began glitching. He appeared in front of Estella then punched her stomach then vanished and kicked her away. He used his tentacles to wrap around her body. He swung her around then slammed her to the ground.
I watched in shock then noticed a stick on the ground. I dashed toward Slender Man while his backwards turned and went for an attack, but a second Slender Man appeared behind me and used his tentacles to wrap around my body and began to choke me.
I groaned and began to choke as he began to suffocate me. I used all of my strength to escape, but I was far too weak. His grip began to grow tighter and I knew it was the end for me. I stopped struggling and lowered my arms, accepting my fate.
A light shined down then a sword was dropped on the ground then a light explosion was released from the sword, blowing away both Slender Man. The second one let out a screech and disappeared. I fell to the ground and noticed the Sword of Saint Michael. I placed my hand on it and heard Michael's voice.
"Use my blade for your protection and for Estella's. Remember Isiah 54:17, no weapon formed against you shall prosper as God will protect His People. Now stand up, Young Xander. Stand up and fight!" Michael said to me.
I began to take the sword out the ground and grunted as angelic power entered my body. Angel wings emerged from my back and I looked at the sword in my hands. I looked at Slender Man then got ready to battle.
Slender Man looked at me and chuckled darkly. "A helping hand from God Himself huh? Too bad that will not work!" He said then dashed toward me then grunted as he was restricted by Estella's chains.
"Xander! Do it now!" Estella yelled.
I ran toward Slender Man and yelled then slashed upwards with all of my strength, slicing his body in half and a bright light then shined. Estella ran toward me and got me out of the way of an explosion.
Slender Man laughed as his voice was still present. "An off guard kill. A classic move used by heroes who know can't win! Enjoy your win for now, but just remember...I will always come back. You can not run forever."
Estella looked at me and noticed my sword had turned into a cross necklace. She began to carry me back to my school and soon noticed the school was on fire. I watched and my eyes widened. I noticed a piece of paper floating down and Estella caught it and read it.
"Enjoy my final gift, Fearless Child." Estella read.
•Present Day•
"Ever since that day, my neighborhood had lost faith in God and in all of humanity. As I've said yesterday, I vowed to kill Slender Man and avenge everyone who was lost that day. No matter what, I'll stop the Underworld from succeeding in whatever their plans are and save those who can repent." I said.
"That's how you got the Soul of The Savior? The Will?" Candy asked.
"No, I actually got The Will when I turned 16 but that's a story for a different time. For now we're here." I said and stopped my car in front of my parents house.
We got out of the car then walked to the front door. I knocked on the door and waited.
The door opened and a man looked at us then smiled. "Xander, I'm glad you made it. I see you've brought Estella and...who's the little one?"
"Dad, this is Candy, our adoptive daughter. We adopted her from an orphanage nearby our apartment." I said.
A little white lie never hurt anyone taken I can't expose her or Estella. If they figured out I am a part of the war against the entire Underworld, I wasn't so sure of how it would end.
"I see. Well Candy, I hope you're having fun with them." My dad chuckled. "Come in, come in."
We walked inside and I looked around, but couldn't feel any nostalgia around as it was all gone. Ever since that day, all the crosses and pictures of Angels and The Savior were taken down and thrown away.
"Your mom will be down shortly, just have a seat in the livingroom." My dad smiled.
I looked at my arm and got goosebumps. I looked at Estella and she looked at me. We walked to the livingroom and sat down.
"Daddy...I don't like this place already.." Candy whispered.
I looked around and rubbed my arm as the air was cold. I could feel my body shaking and noticed my cross shining. "Something is off...I don't know what it is, but something is off..."
"Yeah...but let's just take it easy for now.." Estella said and looked around.
I nodded and began to compose myself, but my goosebumps were still going crazy on my arm. I needed to desperately figure out what was off about my parents and I needed to find out fast.