Fate's Path
Another Way

I woke up hoping that the dreams were true. We never knew about any of this. Chris was still with us. We went on to graduate, to all live together in a safe place. We had each other. Then I woke up to reality. Chris was still kidnapped. We still knew the truth. And worse yet, we were still in Hell. I grabbed onto the empty blankets and my eyelids fluttered open. Connor wasn’t there, Kiera wasn’t either. I looked out the window then remembered that there wasn’t really a night or day in Hell. I sat up slowly.

There was an outfit, I assumed was for me, hanging on the closet door. I looked at it and wrinkled my nose. It was a dress, but not a ballroom gown, which is the only reason I stood up and slipped out of my clothes. I briskly put on the blood red medieval dress. It flowed, going down to my knees. Naturally, I put my leather jacket over it and slid back on my black heels. I took a moment to think, ‘Oh, god. I look like I’m getting ready for prom.’

I adjusted the dress and tried to pull it down to cover more of my legs. It didn’t work. In fact, I think the skirt of my dress got shorter. Defeated, I ran out of the room and down the hall. The sound of my heels against wood echoed and I finally reached the stairs. I was going to turn and run back to my room, but I heard Kiera’s laughter. Likely that meant that Connor was down there, too, and possibly was already cured. That was enough to convince me and I bounded down the stairs. I was quiet but clearly they heard me because Kiera’s voice said, “Piper! You’re awake!”

So much for being cautious in Hell. We had Kiera here to make sure that didn’t happen. “Good morning, Pixie.” I stepped into a dining room. Connor and Kiera were sitting at a long table with Responsum at the end. They all smiled and it sent shivers down my back. How could they be this happy in Hell? Of all places, why did Hell make them happy?

“Morning. Why happy?” I asked, don’t judge me, I was struggling to talk. I always struggle to talk when I first wake up.

“Why serious?” Kiera shot back and I smiled.

“Fair enough. What is there to eat?”

Connor locked eyes with me. “Do you mean, actual food?”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Yes, actual food. I should be able to go at least another two days without blood.” I hissed and he put up his hands in surrender.

“Okay, but there isn’t much human food left.” He seemed to be trying not to laugh.

“Who said I eat human food?” I shot back and this time him and Kiera both started laughing like it was an inside joke.

“The full feast of human flesh.” Connor pointed to Responsum, the demon was biting something tender and tanned. I sniffed the air and clutched my stomach, it was definitely human and the smell of blood was strong but distant. I wrinkled my nose and slid into the chair across from Connor.

Responsum looked up, froze, and pulled the flesh from his mouth. His cheeks were red. “Sorry, your highness. I stayed up all night making that antidote for your venom.” I flinched and he dropped the flesh onto his plate, “I didn’t mean it like that. It’s been awhile since I have spoken to royalty and-”

Connor cut him off. “And father is a bit untamed,” He mused, Kiera smacked Connor on the shoulder but that only served to make him laugh.

“Be polite!” She said, but it was easy to see how hard she was straining to not laugh as well.

“Yeah, because you’re so tame,” I laughed when Connor glared. He stuck his tongue out at me, and I returned the gesture. Then of course, my mind had to ruin everything. I thought about how much fun Chris would have, going on an adventure like this. My smile faded quickly.

“You’re thinking about him, aren’t you?” Connor grabbed onto my hand tightly. “We will replace him, if it is the last thing we do.” His voice was firm but he was clearly hiding his fear.

“I don’t want it to be the last thing we do. I want to get Chris. I wish to at least see Chris one last time. I wish to tell him I love him, tell him everything was going to be alright.” This time, I didn’t even feel the need to cry. My words were strong. My spirit was stronger. My expression was unchanged and Connor pulled his hand away like I was some type of repellant. For a moment I felt soulless, yet powerful. And then it was gone. I shook my head and knit my eyebrows. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what happened. My mind ran away from me, I guess.” I chuckled but the strange feeling made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Kiera didn’t seem to believe me, and neither did Connor. Responsum ignored us and continued eating his 'meal'.

“We should go get Chris. I already have a plan.” I spoke quickly to break the silence. Connor looked at me, but Kiera’s gaze was on Responsum. She mumbled something about how disgusting his diet was.

“You do?” Connor examined my face, looking unconvinced, then shook his head. “Hell no. No way are you allowing yourself to be killed!” He stood, pushing himself back so fast he nearly toppled over his chair.

I stood with him, planting my hands on the table for a dramatic effect. “Do you have a better idea?” I yelled back to him.

“Yes!” There was a pause and for a moment I thought he might actually have a better idea. Then he said, “Not getting yourself killed would be a start!” At this point we were just yelling things at each other. Of course, it got worse. The fighting, I mean. I wanted to protect Chris, but Connor wanted to protect me. This chain was a recipe for disaster.

“I want Chris to survive!” I saw Kiera out of the corner of my eye. She ran to the end of the table and was cowering behind Responsum. “Look what you’ve done! You scared the bloody wits out of Kiera!”

“Me? I’m not the only one yelling! I won’t let you die, Piper!” His eyes seemed to ripple like a pond. The black was returning, with each ripple it grew until his eyes were completely black.

Responsum was patting Kiera’s head and smiling at her in a fatherly manner. It made my heart skip a few beats. I missed that. I tore my eyes from Kiera and Responsum to glare at Connor.

“That’s not really your choice!” My eyes were glowing red, I could see it in the reflection of his now black eyes “I get to decide whether or not I would die for my brother!” I was panting, once more I felt no fear. Only anger flowed through my veins. I wasn’t afraid of death, as long as it was for someone I loved.

“Don’t we have a say in whether we are okay with you dying?” His voice was raised, but there was no anger in his words. He was worried. He was scared. Even as Demon he still worried about me. I felt the fear rush back into my body. It was as if his voice somehow ‘fixed’ me so I went back to my normal self. But I don’t need my normal self. I need the fearless me. I didn’t know what was going on recently but I needed to figure out how to get the brave me back.

I pushed my chair further away from the table and stormed out. I was more mad at myself than I was at Demon or Connor. They were only trying to protect me. I should be thanking them but I need Chris to survive. I don’t want my brother to die. I had barely just found out he was my brother, and when I did, I lost him. I needed him to live so I could tell him I was sorry, that I loved him. Life is so frustrating, I slammed my fist into a wall and it cracked instantly.