Just Checking Up! Part Sixty: Trust, A Finicky Beast!

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Silks struggled to breathe in Hare’s study, Hare floating back in with an empty needle in her quivering palm. Draping a blanket over the shivering Silks, a snap of her fingers shifted her chair inches from the fireplace. Digging around her bookshelves, she pressed a beat up map into my trembling palms. The cure might just lay in my hands. How dare this doctor poison my wife? If he wasn't dead, I would torch him from the inside.

“Find the secret garden of Purgatory and get the plants that appear on the map. That doctor must have poisoned her via a hell of an ancient poison. Let me run some testing on it. Any discoveries will be presented to you.” She assured me in a frightened tone, Dollzy spinning up to my side. “Go on. The door back here should form upon completion.” Nodding once, our footfalls clacked out of her home. Skidding into a sad wasteland, thick fog and sad spirits greeted us. Fury boiled in my veins, stress keeping it at bay. Opening up the map, a low growl rumbled in my throat. Once again my dumb ass had failed to keep her safe, the sheer panic of her disappearance threatening to crumble me where I stood. A tugging on my shirt ripped me back into reality, Dollzy donned a shaky smirk. Great, what would Silks do here?

“Together we can do anything.” She uttered dejectedly, a similar numb look washing over our features. “Count on me to brew that potion to get her as healthy as can be.” Thanking her with a nod, my tiny smirk not fooling her. Parting her lips to speak a couple of times, a dark energy bathed the space. Tumbling back, bad luck seemed to discover us. The translucent form of my mother floated up to me, a lump forming in my throat. Twisting her hair into a severe bun, her stiff gray dress was a death sentence for her. Why must the universe despise me?

“Let me help you!” She pleaded desperately, ice forming around my boots. “Silks needs you to survive, right? I know where the gardens are.” Shooting her a death glare, every breath threatened to shorten. No, not now. This witch would never get to see the damn damage she caused. Pacing back and forth, ice shot out in every direction. Control yourself, control your emotions! Screw that!

“Give me one good reason to trust you! You drag me along on your sick little murder journeys and make me forget!” I roared thunderously, a sick sneer twitching on her lips. “You can’t even fucking apologize. Fuck off with that bullshit!” Sucking in a deep breath, her hands landed on her hips. Not the disappointed position she constantly slapped me with while growing up, I thought bitterly.

“Forgive me for working for a fucked up group of people. Granted they are dead as sin but I want to make amends, damn it!” She fought back viciously, her fuming face matching mine. “I would never have let you die! Fuck off with your own bullshit!” Cocking my brow, mysterious flames cooked all but the ingredient list. Cursing under my breath, her sheer presence was tearing me to shreds.

“It gave rise to even worse trouble that is now a bigger thorn in my side!” I shot back ferociously, her eyes rolling into the back of her head. “Who the hell gave you the right to repent for any of your sins! You can rot for all I care!” Parting her lips to speak, a yelling Hare gave away who it was. Silks marched up in between us, her metal foot seconds from meeting my mother’s face. Too stunned to speak, the drama threatened my mental sanity.

“Coming on a bit strong, aren’t we?” She coughed weakly, her shivers getting worse by the second. “Kicking you out of Hell helped me and me alone. Your ugly mug kept popping up in front of me, so I condemned you to Purgatory. One way in! No way out! Quit causing issues for my f-” Collapsing into my arms, Hare apologized sincerely while scooping her back up. Fighting with whether to be mad or understanding with Silks, the freaking action made sense.

“Let me get this straight, you harassed her until she kicked you out of Hell?” I queried incredulously, pride shimmering in her eyes. “Why would you ever change? Fine, this is a one time deal. Off you float to suffer for an eternity, understood? Badgering her to get what you want is downright despicable.” Sorrow laced anger stained my cheeks, her unwavering expression both pissing me off and shattering me to pieces.

“Don’t blame your queen. She knew my game and didn’t want you to get hurt. That new bitch in charge can rot as you wish me to.” She uttered icily, her head dropping with the slightest bit of shame. “She killed all my friends. How can we hang out in Hell now? Monsters like us need other monsters like us.” Actual grief glistened in the corner of her eyes, that horrid woman understanding what her consequences were always going to be. Black lightning shot across the land, tortured wails broke any compassion I drummed up for her.

“Tick tock goes the clock, my dear.” She sang tiredly, her hands dropping to her side limply in defeat. “Did you ever think that they messed with me as well?” Chewing on my bottom lip, none of this was freaking fair. Manipulation only led to so many excuses, my patience flickering at the edge of its limits. Dollzy cleared her throat, another bolt of lightning seconds from striking her. Time wasn’t on my hands, a motion to lead the way began hours of agonizing silence tainted with earned hatred. Dollzy stuck close to my side, a storm rumbling to life.

Reaching a rusty gate was a relief, our breath hitched as a hooded figure lurched out of the shadows. Pointing towards just my mother and myself, a swirl of ashy grey wind whisked Dollzy away somewhere. Sobbing internally, Dollzy was going to keep my damn temper in check.

“Only family blood can enter. Pick what you need and get out!” A gruff voice ordered sharply, layers of it sounding like rocks grinding against each other. “Try and keep it civil. Do keep in mind Death finds us all.” Stepping out of the way, fate found another way to screw me over. Crossing over the threshold before my mother, the time for her to step up was present. Any color drained from the world, neither of us looking impressed. Scanning the ingredients, every gray and black leaf looked the damn same. No, look closer. Breezes of a gentle nature swayed the bigger ones, different leaves revealing themselves.

“Well, we better get going!” My mother snapped hotly, each other’s company needing to stop at the garden’s gate. “Not that I want to go back to my freaking punishment!” Focusing on gathering the necessary supplies, my fraying nerves wouldn’t permit my dumb ass to look her in the eyes.

“Not that it matters, Dollzy would be preferred at this fucking moment!” I barked impatiently, a cold breeze slapping my back. “No, it had to be you. Such luck seems to find me. It can’t have been worth it to murder children with special gifts. Was I next or was too demonic for your fucking spells?” Floating in front of me, her death glare didn’t faze me in the slightest. Nice try!

“Give it a break! I may not have been parent of the year but you can’t be mad at me forever.” She breathed irately, a huff escaping my lips not pleasing her. Parent of the year had never been her title, her dirty little secret most certainly snatching that. Disbelief wrote itself all over my features, a poisoned quiet hanging between us. There was no way in Hell she was going to ever be anything but pure evil in my eyes.

“Still arguing?” Silks’ voice questioned softly, chills running up my spine as she limped up to me. “Shaking off Hare proved difficult, something telling me that you two would be biting each other’s head off. Not that it isn’t wrong to be doing so. You are a monster and he is innocent. Stalking me wasn’t a smart move. Of course, he is unsettled by the sight of you.” Facing my mother sternly, her hands trembled on her hips. Chewing on her bottom lip, deep raw fury seared to life in both of their eyes.

“Sorry for fucking dealing with your bullshit! You woke up my son to my tendencies and began a horrible chain of ev-” She began to rant, Silks smashing her into the weakened darker gray cobblestone. Digging her knee into her translucent chest, her hair floated up to reveal fresh scars from God knows what.

“Cut the shit! I didn’t betray Hare’s trust and use Dollzy’s skills in my place to get criticized by your dumb ass!” She bellowed thunderously, jet black lightning crackling down her arm. “If incentive is all you require to behave, I banned your little friends to the far end of Purgatory. Sure, no magic can be performed but gripe away there!” Softening their death glares upon the moment my throat clearing hit their ear, realization dawned in my mother’s eyes. Stepping off of her, her extended claws ran through her hair. Another poisoned pause lingered in the air, my mother not knowing what to say.

“Why? Why grant me sanctuary after all the crappy torture I put you through?” She questioned seriously, bewilderment shutting down any holier than thou attitude. “Mercy is the furthest thing I deserve. Mercy might end your life.” Silks flashed her genuine smile, the air relaxing briefly. Cocking her head back, a long sigh drew from her lips.

“Redemption isn’t possible for a monster like you. Prison can be a happy agreement for the three of us.” She returned gently, rivers of pain dribbling off of her chin. “You stay out of my hair and you get your friends. As annoying as you are, we are family. Your God abandoned you, the floor no longer existing underneath your feet. Permit me to provide a contained paradise, rules accompanying the crew after all. Do bear in mind that I despise you with every fiber of my being.” Truth laced her aura, an apologetic grin meeting my slightly frustrated expression.

“Apologies for doing this behind your back. She was proving herself to be a pain in my ass.” She continued between sniffle filled coughing fits. “I can’t have my king getting crushed from the weight of the world. Here I thought that I could erase her existence. Please forgive your queen.” Leaning onto the closest tree, inky vomit flew up her throat. Rushing to her side, surprise rounded my eyes at my mother behaving as obediently as a caged animal. Served her right, shame almost showing in her features. Only Silks could trap her into a pensive state, wet eyes meeting mine in the hopes of us reaching an affectionate common ground.

Kissing away her agony, my palms cupped her cheeks. Pressing forehead against hers, her ragged breaths blended poorly into mine. Sliding down the tree, a bag of potion supplies tumbled to her bare feet. Panic snapped me back to reality, a proper recipe tumbling out of her freshly clenched hand. Succumbing to exhaustion, her eyelids fluttered shut. Examining my list, a whip of my head to the left revealed a lost mother. A throat cleared, her floating form dangled the rest of what I required for the potion. Hovering between whether to trust her or not, a long breath escaped her lips.

“Poisoning her would be foolish after her gift.” She pointed out stiffly, the bag swaying in an icy breeze. “Please trust me this one time. Are going to let distrust win? Will you let death befall her? I have a stake in the game. One of those monsters did devour all of us of course. Vengeance can’t occur without her, correct! Kick their ass and all of that jazz!” Accepting it cautiously, her eyes tracked me setting up a potion cooking center. Assuming the map burning up wouldn’t bring us home, Silks had to be our best bet. Blasting the special rocks with my dragon flames, the worn cauldron began to warm up. Laughing gently to herself, curiosity had our eyes meeting as I crushed the herbs and flowers together.

“Damn, you are just like your father. Calm in the middle of a fucking storm.” She sighed with regret dripping in her tone. “Sorry for cutting you off from him. The two of you would have run the world if I allowed it. Are your relations decent now?” Flashing her real smile, nothing hollow lay beneath it.

“Perfection is the only way to describe it. They get to babysit the grandchildren all the time, our family sure to grow bigger. If only you didn’t fuck up!” I began quietly, the last sentence coming out in an abrupt bellow. Catching the bowl before it fell, a glimmer of guilt hid underneath her broken smile. An awkward pause hung in the air, neither of us wanting to speak.

Dumping the dust into the cauldron, Silks’ blood was the final piece. Slicing open her palm, inky sludge oozed into the bowl. Pouring it into the cauldron, a splash of water diluted it into a thick potion. Bouncing the wooden spoon off of my palm, the damn stuff had to come to a boil. Stirring gingerly, the outburst may have been a bit much.

“Sorry for losing it. Maybe I can visit you in jail, alone.” I returned honestly, her features brightening visibly. “Perhaps we can repair this. Give me time.” Nodding her head, genuine joy dribbled off of her chin. Noting the rapid boil, a beat up brass cup rolled into my eager palm. Snapping my finger, the potion floated into the cup. Crawling over to Silks, a pour down her throat had me holding my breath. Wounds fast forwarded into obvious scars, a new wave of guilt crashing over me. Why did freaks keep kidnapping her?

“Have you tried planting dolls to fool the kidnappers?” She suggested simply, relief finding its way onto my features upon her breathing steadying. “Do you not have that powerful Dollzy?” Hating that she had a point, my eyebrow twitched at its brilliance. As monstrous as she was, that witch found a way to evade the law for all those years. Plopping down next to Silks, her slightly more gaunt body crawled into my eager arms. Snuggling into my chest, my chin rested on the top of her head. Smiles of everyone flashed in my mind, homesickness piercing my soul. Ignoring the obvious needle marks, another layer of trauma pierced my queen.

“Bearing the crown is a heavy burden.” She explained sternly, my wet eyes meeting her numb eyes. “Elementals, demons, and humans best keep their eyes open. Anything out of place can be bad news for you all. Be the intelligent boy I raised.” Irked by her last statement, the corner of my lips twitched into a sarcastic smirk. Hatred returned, the usual venom stinging what could have been.

“Hitting me with wisdom that I didn’t ask for?” I bit back hotly, the lack of hurt cementing what I feared the most. “Someone won’t change, will they? Does that much ice encase your freaking soul?” Pleading the fifth, mixed emotions stained my cheeks. Had her case been left to me, her spirit would burn in a pit for eternity. Imagining such a sight, too much evil would never make it worth it. Curse my goddamn need to do good.

“I meant it with good intentions!” She snapped intensely, low growls rumbling in our throats. “Trust me never again but her safety appears to be rather high on your list. Even monsters pay back kindness.” Chewing on her bottom lip, a lump formed in my throat. Choosing the serenity of silence, words would prove to be a damn thorn. Perhaps speaking would help out. Then again, would it?

“Okay!” I returned just as loud, both of us hurting just as much as each other. “I don’t care! Every shred of me wants to heal this but I only see a monster who dragged me along a twisted road trip! Memories keep waking up! Images wake up an intense guilt! All that plagues my mind is how I couldn’t save them, damn it!” Shooting me an understanding frown, regret flashed in her eyes for a second. Maybe the flame in the lantern was on after all. Silks barely kept it civil between the two of them, so why couldn’t I?

“Take your time. Something about her actions spoke to me.” She confessed honestly, her arms folding across her chest. “Let me try to learn how to feel emotions! Granted, I learned to shut them down a long time ago.” Something about her statement paralyzed me, her words nearly matching Silks. Brushing my lips against the top of Silks’ head, a cute yawn warmed my soul. Happy to see her alive and mostly well, the week seeking her had been a personal Hell. Basking in her aura, the orange flames felt like a tender embrace. Hope strengthened them, her powers restoring themselves in response. Staring up at the brightening orange full moon, a prayer lingered in my brain. Please grant my queen the good luck and safety we required to protect us. Lord knows we could use all the help we could get.