Just Checking Up Part Sixty-One: An Endless Nightmare!

Silks:

“Nice to see you here!” The dark version of me joked awkwardly, recent events leading me to not react immediately. “Are you okay? Did the world bite you a bit too hard?” My wet eyes met her kind ones, the tone of voice threatening to break me down further.  

“I betrayed Hare!” I sobbed uncontrollably, my eyes darting to all the bookshelves. “What if she doesn’t want to talk to me again? Holy shit, I am so scared of being kidnapped! Rip thinks he isn’t good enough! Nothing seems to repair that bullshit. Not to mention his bitch of his mother is out there while I am unconscious for the millionth fucking time!” Claws extended from my fingertips, my knees collapsing to the worn floor of my mind. Burying my forehead into the closest rug, scream after scream exploded off of my tongue. Breaking down into shortened breathing laced with pathetic weeps, clammy sweat beaded on my skin. Rubbing my back, her gentle smile greeted my broken expression. 

“I see.” She uttered simply, her body plopping down next to mine. “To be fair, these eyes have witnessed worse.” Pointing to her eyes, a fit of laughter burst from my lips. The shadow of my genuine smile returned, my breaths steadying. Laying my head on her lap, shock rounded her eyes. Playing with the closest memory, her fingers laced themselves into my tangled hair. Working through my snarls, our bond really was a special one. Hating myself for liking her company, his memory would have to live on in another manner. Still I missed our banter. 

“If it means anything, I have never been happier.” She confessed freely, her hand finishing up with the last snarl. “People see me as evil and that is it. Thank you for letting me chill out, I guess. Hare will forgive you eventually if not right away. We do share the same memories after all.” Chewing on my bottom lips, silent tears stained my cheeks. Stealing didn’t exactly help my case. 

“That’s good to hear.” I sniffled dejectedly, the last week sure to come back in horrible bits. “Don’t you ever leave my side. I am aware that her darkness can now be vanquished without consequence but I don’t want to picture a life without you. Understand? Before you say you are just me, only a touch darker, you are your own being. Don’t forget that.” Orange fire lilies blossomed around me, wonder swirling around her aura. People calling my name fraying the edge of our little meeting. Hugging her desperately, a force woke me up. 

Snapping awake, a black and white garden greeted me. Immense grief drowned me, the sight of mother and Rip reminding me of my current nightmare. Popping to my feet, a few cracks of my joints had me in as much of a fighting shape as I could manage. Ignoring Rip’s protest, the thorn in our side needed to be pulled out. Pirouetting around the garden in a certain pattern, an orange flaming door crackled to life. Opening it cautiously, her friends waited on the other side, a small village having been built. Hovering a few inches from my face, her slender hands hung lifelessly on her sides. Please don't make this difficult.

“Go home. Never bother again.” I sniffled darkly, hurt stinging everyone’s features. “Your book is finished. Please do as I request!” Glancing back at Rip, a bit of motherly love flashed in her eyes. Giving them a minute by turning my back, a brief civil conversation had her floating through the door. Slamming it shut behind her, a shaken up Rip embraced me from behind. Crying into my back, he held on long enough. Rubbing the top of his hands, trauma slapped him in the face. Parting my lips to apologize, his grip around my waist strengthened.  

“Don’t say a word. Let me hold you until I am done talking to you.” He growled dejectedly, my soul beginning to crack for him. “Before you apologize, don’t you fucking dare. Thank you for giving me the chance to air out my frustrations. At least I can see her when I am ready.” Scarlet flushed my cheeks, one problem getting dealt with. A sigh escaped my lips, relief writing itself onto my features. Spinning me around to face him, devastation dashed it all away. Shrinking back, a shove had him stumbling back. Sprinting away from him, his pleas fell on deaf ears. Every harsh word rang like a bell in my mind, a muddy swirl sweeping me away.  

Tossing me onto a muddy floor , greenhouse levels of mugginess woke up a bit of nausea. Apparently the heat exhaustion had to latch itself onto me in my darling afterlife journey. Wetness overloaded my senses, a darker swell threatened to drown me. A knee jammed into my chest, any air fleeing from my chest. A swift kick shattered my ribs, a boiling rage waking up my onyx lightning.  

“Look at the caged animal!” A deep wicked voice chuckled gleefully, a massive hand scooping me out of the puddle I had rolled into. Chills shot up my spine, an eight foot tall mountain of a demon glared into my defiant expression. Milky eyes glowed in what could only be described as a discarded scarecrow. Age wore him into a holy bag of straw, the leather outfit creaking with his increasing fury. Straw burned, one lightning strike hitting the biggest target of straw. Grinning ear to ear devilish, wheezing laughter slipped off my tongue. Pausing for a second, smoke curled into the air.  

“Smoking is awfully bad for someone made of straw.” I coughed sarcastically, realization dawning in his eyes. “Should I tell your doctor?” Realization dawned in his eyes, horror replacing it. Flinging me onto a sharp branch, my plan had failed greatly. Why was this fucking here, I roared internally. Squirming off the branch, a big hole in my stomach ticked me off. An inky waterfall cascaded inches from my toes, regular flames devouring him whole. Why not piss off the guardian of the garden as well, I hissed mentally. Sneaking over to the greenhouse door, a slam of my body sent me crashing through the thin glass. Shards dug themselves into my skin, a weak pop to my feet had me crashing away in the opposite direction. A storm rumbled to life, black lightning dancing across the sky. Heavy rainfall plopped onto my head, agony soaking me to my bone. Mumbling a quick healing spell, muscle weaved itself into an angry scar. Bones clicked into place, minor fractures remaining on my ribs. Scanning the space, the splash of color told me that I was outside of his garden. Thanking God under my breath, the storm died down. Fuck, these emotions needed to get in check.  

Raw fury tainted the air, a mob of bitter spirits surrounded me. Grace would carry me through this next step, anxiety swelling with the lump in my throat. Raising my hands, killing their souls was against the universe’s laws in purgatory. Summoning a ball of crackling orange flames, childlike wonder softened their expressions.

“Help the Queen of Hell out? I need to get back to Rip and then to Hare.” I requested politely, indignity darkening their shadow figures. “Maybe it will help you get closer to Heaven.” Charging at me, a push off the ground landed me outside of their circle. Crashing away from them, failure could result in a most undesired death. Fog tripled in front of me, the spirits popping up around me. Karma decided to dish out her payment, a long sigh escaping my lips. 

“We both know the outcome!” I cried in desperation, every pace back and forth weakening me. “Laws can’t be broken unless consequences are bound to be paid! Let me go, damn it!” Storm clouds darkened the sky, a heavier anxiety mixing poorly with fear. Lightning struck multiple spots, the ground shaking underneath me. Dispersing as fast as they swarmed me, the sight of a shadowy clump of corrupted souls bursting from the ground threw me into a tailspin. Did this count as permission to break the laws of the land? Leaping back clumsily, a root threatened to trip me. Failing to summon my carved wood didn’t shock me, a throat clearing had me spinning on my heels. Nothing was to be discovered, something taunting me to no end. What fresh hell was this bullshit! 

Hare popped up over my head, her bell jingling with every flip, her ears pinning back. Thudding inches from me, her gentle smile did little to cut away any of my damn dread. Glancing back at me, golden claws extended from her fingernails, miniature versions of Dollzy danced past me. Spinning up to me, Dollzy grinned mischievously ear to ear. Working together like a dream team, a feeling of uselessness paralyzed me. Summoning a fair bit of black lightning, a throbbing glowing core captured my sharp eyes. Shifting it into a giant arrow and bow, Rip running up to me threatened my composure. Stiffening up, inky drops plopping onto my hands announced the beginnings of my magical limits. Pulling the crackling string after lining it up, a yank back created a world of tainted silence. Releasing the arrow, hot air mixed with cold as time slowed down. Piercing the core, the surface began to bubble violently. Rip swallowed my body in his, a sickening explosion announcing its end. Shivering in his arms, bells twinkled in the air. Crap, my dumb ass had broken a law. Panicking internally, something felt off. 

A bright light blinded me, musty fog becoming a fluffy white cloud. Straightening my back, a locked golden gate taunted me. Trumpets played in the background, a quiet fear settling in my heart. Pressing my lips into a thin line, angels of all races with golden wings guided me into a golden office off to the side. Forcing me into a golden leather chair, the carved cedar desk in front of me seemed littered with folders bearing my name. What trouble did I land myself in? Squeaking drew my eyes to an ornate golden leather chair, a lump swelling in my throat once more. Spinning the chair around, a mysterious cloaked figure. Dropping her hood, wild golden curls bounced around an obviously tall female angel’s shoulder. Dusting off her ivory cloak, golden wings burst to life. Golden feathers fluttered about, her glowing golden eyes meeting my fear stricken expression. 

“Jesus Christ! Someone seems a bit frightened of God.” She joked blithely, her shimmering matching lips to her eyes curling into a stunning smile. “He invited you up here to draw up an official contract. Your little thorn is working with our fallen angels. Seems that the crazy idiots are starting an alliance I prefer not to witness.” Her soft tone unsettled me, pure annoyance replacing my earned terror. Shooting her a death glare, her chair groaned as she leaned back. 

“Did you not kill a bunch of souls in Purgatory today, my dear?” She pointed out stiffly, curse words finding their way off of my tongue. “Our numbers up here are too small to deal with it. So that issue rests on your shoulders. The source comes from you after all.” Cocking my brow, a slam of my palms on her desk sent her into a bit of a fit. Shaking my head, the corner of my lips curled into a mad sneer. 

“So I was supposed to let another friend die!” I thundered into her face, her expression remaining unchanged while she dug around her desk. “Too much has been stolen from me. Your angel issue can be dealt with by yourself! Leave me out of i-” Covering my mouth via her palm, her head cocked to the left. What was she going to try to say to convince me? Could I trust her?

“How about you shut the hell up, your majesty? I am offering you clearance to do what you need. Hell can be transformed into a place of rehabilitation instead of irksome suffering.” She continued as if she didn’t interrupt me. “Now that I have your attention, we can discuss the problem at hand. Angels are a bit busy protecting individuals as guardians. Let’s keep it that way. You on the other hand are the free agent. Sign this and any dream will become reality.” Slamming a fancy scroll onto the desk, an ivory dove feather drifted into my open palm. Opening it up cautiously, the calligraphy was art itself. Scanning the lines, every dream glittered back up at me. Pricking my fingertip, hope shone in her eyes as I scribbled my name across the thick glowing line. Disappearing in a puff of brass glitter, my fate had been sealed. Snapping her fingers, any dragon magic damage reversed itself. Childlike wonder brightened my eyes, the constant agony died down to a dull throb.  

“Thanks.” I mumbled under my breath shyly, her hands cupping my face. “Pardon my bad manners. May I have a name?” Forcing me to look into her eyes, a warmth really heated up my soul. Every ounce of my breath hitched, her lips parted several times.

“Such trauma haunts your aura. Too bad I can’t heal that.” She almost apologized sincerely, her dainty fingers tracing my gaunt cheeks. “When was the last time you had a good night of rest? Forgive me, my name is Blessia. Consult me if you have to speak to God on this matter. I am his secretary after all.” Taken aback by her observation, slumber had always evaded me. Lowering her hands onto her lap as she sank back into her seat, a pensive silence hung between us. Should I break it first?

“Do you have weapons that are guaranteed to kill your angels or are my powers enough to do it?” I interrogated her politely, light returning to her eyes. “How about we become friends? I could always use a couple more.” Giggling a bit, seriousness returned abruptly. Laughing under my hand, she didn’t have to be like that around me. Smirking playfully in her direction, the deep ruby painting her cheeks spoke of a rare vulnerability. Happy to see it, beings like her often suffered the plague of loneliness. 

“Considering that you would vaporize the second you touch one of our weapons, that would be a no. Worry not, your powers should be enough if you concentrate them tenfold.” She informed me delightfully, her hands digging around her desk. “This little thing should be a huge aid in your mission for us. How odd? The Queen of Hell willing to work for the angels of Heaven is a damn miracle. Perhaps getting along is a possibility in the future. Where do you want to go home? More likely, who do you want to go home to?” Mumbling out Hare and the others, a clasp of her palms tossed me out of the fluffy clouds. 

Strong arms caught me, Rip soaking in the fact that my body had healed for the most part. Sniffing the air, both Hare and him recoiled. Plucking the golden angel feather off of my forehead, Dollzy flipped it over her fingers. Pondering over it visibly, her finger ran along the edge. 

“Does this mean that we are working for God?” She questioned joyously, her grin growing wider by the second. “What do we get to hunt down?” Rip raising his hand shut down her barrage of questions, his stern expression leading to Hare and Dollzy offering to get some tea. Floating out after her, a pause in the doorway woke up extreme guilt. Mouthing a silent apology, her gentle smile told me that it was fine with a fun night catered to her taste. Fair was fair in this situation, I thought tiredly to myself. 

“Did those assholes at least offer to help or are we doing their dirty work?” Rip asked hotly, his voice tearing me out of my train of thought. My grimace answered his question, his trembling arms clutching me close to his chest. Pecking the top of my head, his scent swirled around mine. 

“If they are teaming up with that monster of a freak, that request makes total sense.” He breathed honestly, his palms sliding down to my cheeks. Lifting up my face, his lips hovered over mine. Our breaths became one, our emotional energy failing to recharge itself completely. All of his strife led back to me, guilt dimming my loving expression. 

“You should leave me. I betrayed you by hiding the shit with your mother. I am so fucking sorry.” I wept openly, every negative emotion bubbling to the surface on our faces. “Please don’t though. I need my king, even though I keep screwing up repeatedly. My heart is yours and yours alone, my King.” Snuggling into his chest, every part of me wanted to hold onto him for an eternity. 

“Never. I shall never depart from your side!” He announced in a grand manner, a light smirk twitching on my lips. “My queen, your actions bore merit. Hell, I can see her anytime. Apologies for her harassing you endlessly. No one deserves that. Worry not about the angel thing. I have a feeling at least one will throw in the ace card, my dear queen. Remember this! My heart belongs to you and only you.” Basking in his love, his presence was all I needed at this moment. Dear big guy upstairs, please protect me in my job for you.