Mika
7

My mind wakes, but, my eyes stay closed. Where am I? Thebeds so comfortable, what happened before? Finally my senses come back to me allowingme to hear three people talking. Mika’s voice instantly stands out, I feelsomeone holding my left hand, but, I won’t look. I need to hear this.

“Why did you even come down?” Mika asks, a hint of anger inhis voice.

“She’s in danger, from you, her father and a handful ofangels and demons who want to get to her throne.” That voice… Jasper? That wasreal? I can feel my nose go tingly as I fight the urge to scrunch my eyes up.

“Mika, this is a huge issue. Hades needs her to complete theritual. He won’t kill her, but, he needs her by his side,” A woman’s voice isheard, but, it’s oddly familiar. I just can’t put my finger on it.

I hear Mika sigh as the grasp on my hand becomes tightershowing me it’s him who’s holding my hand, “I know.” My heart stops beating asthose words leave his lips. He knew about that whole thing? “I also know she’sgot more power than him, even as a half breed.” Half what?!

“What we witnessed was something Hades doesn’t have. Hecan’t protect people like that,” the girl starts, but, is cut off by Jasper.

“Not that he’s tried,” I can hear the irritation in hisvoice, “he doesn’t protect anyone. Every man for himself.” He sighs heavily.

Jaspers voice is making me weak, I thought he was dead,after six years, he was watching over me this whole time? Why didn’t he comedown when I was crying over him and let me know he was still there? A tearescapes my eye causing everyone to fall silent, “Shh.” Mika warns everyone as Ifeel a hand on my cheek, “Jamie?” Mika’s voice is calm yet worrying.

My eyes flutter open, “Mika,” I stare at him as a huge smiletakes over his face. Without hesitation he falls into me wrapping his armsaround me, burying his face into my neck. Almost as soon as he does it, I wrapmy arms around him pulling him closer to me as I rest my forehead on hisshoulder. I worried him this much? His hand comes up to the back of my head ashe stokes my hair causing a comforting feeling to run through me. Slowly I lookup to see Jasper standing next to a window he was obviously sitting on before.I stop myself form crying as a smile appears on his face, relief written allover his face. He has changed so much since his death. I didn’t know angelsstill aged in heaven or hell.

“You’ve been out for three days…” The woman speaks causingme to snap my head towards her and Mika to pull away from me. Alex? My bestfriend from high school is here, but, why? How did she know about any of this?

“Alex?” I mumble as I sit up. She smiles as she blows apiece of her black hair out her face, “I haven’t seen you in two years.” Ismile back.

She rubs the nape of her neck, “there is an answer for that.I wanted to keep in contact, but, things happened.” She tries to cover thesadness in her voice, but, I can hear it.

I suddenly realise she’s in a room with two people from theafterlife. I slowly look at Mika, without moving my head, my eyes look back atAlex, “Does, she know about you two?” I whisper, but, because it’s so quiet sheheard me.

“Mm, I do.” She chimes in as I snap my head to look at her. Curiosityclouds me and apparently it was obviously what I was thinking. Before I caneven ask how, she blinks and her eyes turn black red veins running over them. Ithrow my hands up in the air before letting them fall back on the bed.

“Great. I’m the only alive one in this room.” I groancausing them all the laugh loudly. This isn’t funny, I’m actually slightlyannoyed at this. It’s not that I want to be dead, but, why are my only friendsdead? Wow that’s depressing.

“How do you think I feel? I’m surrounded by two powerfuldemons. It’s good to see you still have your sense of humour,” Jasper laughscausing me to look at him to see him walking towards me and sitting on the edgeof the bed. Wait where am I?

A chuckle comes from Mika, “you look confused,” I look athim and run my fingers through my hair humming a yes while looking around,“you’re at Alex’s house. Well we all are,” he laughs as he reaches his hand upas wipes a piece of hair out of my face causing me to smile. Okay, I haveofficially fallen for a demon. I hate myself.

“You own a house?” I ask looking at her, but, she’s dead?How can she possibly own a house?

She crosses her arms and laughs, “I’m also in a contract,and so I share my house with my master.” The way she speaks his name, it soundslike she’s also fallen for him. I wonder if Mika feels the same way. My facedrops as it suddenly clicks, she has a master in this house?! Does he knowabout my situation? Does he know I’m here?

“Does he know about me?” I mumble causing her to shake herhead.

“Well, he knows you’re here, but, not your situation. Hejust thinks you were attacked by a group of demons that are outcasts.” Sheshrugs, and slowly hums, “if you think about it, they’re the, so called thugsof this world.” She laughs.

I look down placing my hands in my lap sadness taking overme, what is this sudden mood change? The room falls silent as my hair falls inmy face, “who’s my father?” I can feel anger also swarming inside me. No onereplies causing me to raise my voice, “Mika, I command you to tell me who myfather is.” Mika stutters on his words causing a sound to erupt from his lipsas if he’s stopped his words, “Mika.” I snap my head to him to see his mouthhung open as he contemplates his words.

“Hades.” Is all that leaves his lips trying not to say toomuch. My stern expression falls as I let those words sink in turning my head tolook back down. He’s kidding me right?

“I’m going to get in so much trouble for this, but, yourmother had an affair with Hades creating a demi god, in other words, you.”Jasper speaks confidently. I blink a couple times, I don’t want to believe it,but, I always knew Peter wasn’t my dad. I could just feel it. And witheverything that’s gone on so far, I don’t replace it very hard to believe themabout my real father.

“We’re all here to protect you. Mika was ordered by Hades toprotect you, so he sent Mika to create the contract with you. He was going tosend him either way, but, you made his job easier.” Alex chimes in. Slowly Iturn my head to look at Mika, so he did know this whole time. He wasn’tprotecting me because of our contract, he was protecting me on my dad’s orders.Is anything he said to me real? Mika stares at me, obviously ashamed withhimself, “Jasper always looked over you as a guardian, which makes him an angelwith extraordinary power, but, not as strong as gods or demi gods. When god sawyou were in a contract with Mika, he was sent to keep a close eye on you. Hehas been on the ground ever since you summoned Mika, well, at night he wasn’ton the ground, but, if anything had happened to you, he would have been thereas fast as he did the night you first saw him.” I continue to stare at Mika asall this is being said, some of it going in one ear and out the other, mythoughts blocking everyone else out, sometimes paying attention to what she’ssaying.

Jasper stands up causing me to look away from an ashamedMika and look at Jasper, “and Alex is here because she was on an errand for hermaster and saw us and came to help. She already knew you situation, everyone inthe afterlife does. Which is completely unsafe and stupid.” Jasper groans as herolls his head back going back over to the window.

“Demi god huh,” I mumble as I look at Alex not exactlytalking to anyone, “you,” I look at Mika causing him to look back at me, “haveyou lied to me?” I ask, my voice threatening to crack.

He shakes his head, “no. I have only told me what you asked.I didn’t see any point in telling you any of this because it never came up inconversation.” Those words make me feel a little better. Does that mean whathappened to him when he was alive wasn’t a lie? I look down at his arms to seethe scars that always makes the pit in my stomach larger and harder to bare, “Iwould never lie about that,” He mumbles as he tries to cover his scars with hisarms, but, accidently showing more.

“I hate that bitch,” Alex curses as she looks at his arms,“you can’t tell me you’re not happy mamma is in purgatory?” She scoffs causingMika to snap his head in her direction.

He stands up angrily, “no matter what she did, I stillrespected her! She made me the guy I am today, so don’t go telling me I shouldbe happy about her being put in a place like that!” He yells as he stepstowards her, his eyes going black.

“Mika calm down, I don’t know what she did, but, you can’thonestly believe she helped you in life,” Jasper takes a step forwards him justin case he tries to hurt Alex or me. But, he won’t.

“Exactly! You don’t know what she did to me so you don’thave a say,” Mika growls as he points at him, “I have to make her proudotherwise she will,” he abruptly cuts himself off before tensing his entirebody spinning around and walking out the room. That escalated quickly…

“Mika!” Alex groans as she leans against the wall throwingher head back in annoyance.

Jasper shakes his head, as he furrows his eye brows indisbelief at it temper, “remind me how old he is again.” He speakssarcastically.

“Twenty two,” Alex mumbles not looking at any of us. I stareat the door he just left before swinging my legs over the side and standing up,my legs wobble as I hold on to the side of the bed.

“You need to sit back down Jamie,” Jasper speaks as he walksover to me grabbing hold of my arm softly.

Quickly I yank it away, “I’m not going to get better if Istay sitting and lying down now, am I?” I look at him. A surprised look on hisface as he freezes. I take this opportunity to walk around him, my legs stillshaking as I place my hand on the door, “leave us alone for a minute.”

“Jamie,” Alex calls as I turn the handle, “be careful…” Herwords strike fear in me. Mika would never hurt me. Right?

I tighten my grip on the handle as I gain the courage towalk out. Without replying I swing the door open closing it softly behind me.Didn’t Alex say she has a master? I wonder if he’s home, but, first I need toreplace Mika. I place my hand on the wall as I walk down the gorgeous hallwaydecorated in photos and beautiful sculptures, I guess her master is rich…Looking down the hallway, there’s only one closed door, of course he would makeit that obvious. I make my too it and place my hands on the handle letting outa deep breath before walking in, “Mika?” I ask.

“Jamie, you shouldn’t be in here,” He speaks causing me tohurry in closing the door behind me. I look around the see him topless in frontof a mirror. He has his back to it as he inspects his back, “you need to getout.”

I stop dead in my tracks and stare at his back, my mouthhung open, “what the hell did that woman do to you..?” I gasps as I put my handover my mouth. Scars cover his back and chest, my heart pounds against my chestand I pray he can’t hear it. He sighs and continues to claw at his back. I runover to him and grab his hands prying them off himself, “Mika stop!” I pleacausing him to look at me, “I know she hurt you, but, that doesn’t mean youhave to hurt yourself!” I yell as I rip his hands away.

He rips his hands back grabbing my forearms staring down atme, “she hurt me so I would be stronger! I was weak, pathetic, but, she made methis, I’m stronger now,”

“You’re dead!” I cut him off as his eyes stay black causingmy body to tremble slightly in his grip, “if you hurt me, you’re no better thanshe was.” I growl as I push his hands off me causing him to step backwards.

I see the anger in his face as he clenches his fists besidehim, “I’m not going to hurt you, why would you even think that?!” He yells ashis expression becomes washed with sadness. I take a step back from his loudtone, “I’d never be able to hurt someone like she did, so don’t go telling meI’m no better than her.” He growls as he looks down closing his eyes trying tocontrol his anger.

I don’t understand him right now, “which one is it?” I askcausing him to look up at me confused, “one minute you’re defending her thenthe next, you’re saying how horrible she was!” I continue to yell trying toknock sense into him.

He shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair, “Irespect her! I never said I wanted to be like her. She did horrible things tome, but, she always told me it was to make me stronger, make my pain levelshigher, that’s why I respect her.” He sighs as he starts to tremble. I reach myhand out to touch his cheek to stop him from trembling, but, he walks away fromthe mirror and sits on the bed.

“She wouldn’t have done it for your sake Mika,” I mumble notturning round just yet, “she found fun in it, a game you might say.” I hear himcatch his breath in his throat telling me he’s realising something. He doesn’treply causing me to turn around and make my way over to him. He stays staringat the floor his hands holding his cheeks as he rests his elbows on his knees.I sit down next to him and lean forwards to see his eyes back to their normal blue,but, his pupils are tiny as if he’s just seen a ghost, “Mika… You don’t need tomake her proud,” I reach over grabbing his face in my hands making him look atme.

“A game you say?” He asks making me remember what I said acouple of minutes ago, he’s still on that? I blink and continue to stare athim, “games were her specialty.” He closes his eyes and pulls his face awayfrom my hands. So many emotions from a demon…

“Talk to me…” I whisper letting him know I can handle thestory he wants to tell me.

*FLASHBACKMIKAS POV*

“You remember the fun we had last time honey,” mamma laughsas she holds my chin harshly while in her other hand a pair of plyers.

My body starts to tremble as I try to pull my face away,“mamma, I didn’t have fun last time, I lost.” I whine as I struggle to stand upfrom the wounds on my legs, not to mention the burns on the soles of my feet.

She lets go of my face throwing me backwards onto the floor,“you lost because you’re weak. Now, why do you think mamma like playing thesegames with you?” She smirks as she steps on my ankle causing me to scream outin pain.

“Mamma please! I’ll be good, I promise!” I cry as I try topull my ankle away, but, she steps on it harder.

She digs her heel into my burns, “stop crying and toughen upwill you!” She yells as she takes her foot away causing me to grab my leg andwipe my eyes, “now go hide while mamma counts.” She smirks, her words comingout like pure venom.

“Yes mamma,” I smile slightly to please her. She looks awayfrom me going through all her tools that she uses when she plays with me. Iscramble to my feet and limp away running as best I can. She only wants me tobe stronger, she’s such a good mamma, but, if only she was a little kinder. Irun down the dungeon hallway as I search for a place to hide, she always replacesme! It’s not fair. She knows all my hiding places. I make a sharp left turndown a corridor before making another right turn a little further up to replacethree doors. She won’t replace me in one of these! I haven’t hidden here before…

“Ready or not! Here I come!” Her voice is heard echoing downthe hallways causing me to turn around and look for her before entering one ofthe rooms. I look around to replace contraptions everywhere. Oh no, I’m in the funroom. My eyes widen as I look at all my dry blood on the tables and wheels. Mybreath increases as I hear her footsteps down the hallway, “I have a fun punishmentif I win this time!” She yells as I quickly run to the table in the back leftcorner climbing under it. Please don’t replace me! I want to win so I get an evenmore fun reward! I hug my legs as I hide under the table on the cold brickground, the feeling of excitement running through me. I watch as the door opensand she walks in, “are you in your play room Miky?” She uses a childish tone asshe calls me by the nickname she created. Her eyes lock with mine causing asmirk to fall on her face, “I found you!” She snickers as she comes over to mekneeling in front.

“That’s no fair!” I whine as she holds out a hammer, “youalways win.” I cross my arms as my body trembles again due to the sight of herwith a hammer.

“I know.” She smirks as she hits me over the head with ahammer.

“Wake up my dear,” Her soft voice being heard as I open myeyes to replace my arms and ankles tied together. I hate this one.

My head feels heavy as I try to lift it to face her, but, ithurts too much, “did I do good mamma?” I ask as I lay my head back down.

She turns around holding up a saw, “look at me when you’readdressing me honey,” she growls as she runs a sharpening blade across the saw.

I lift my head up, almost crying, “Did I do well?” I askonce again.

She smirks as she kneels over me, resting her knee into myrib cage causing me to let out a slight scream, “you did very well choosing youspot,” She holds the saw up to my face, “but, I found you so you get apunishment for being weak again.” She kneels harder into my side causing me togroan loudly and throw my head back in pain, “oh right, that’s the wound whereI took one of your ribs out isn’t it?” She chuckles as she pushes harder.

“Mamma please! I’ll hide better next time!” I beg as I feelthe blade of the saw land on my chest, “I need my heart to be strong!” She’sgoing to take my heart! If she does that, I can’t learn to be strong anymore!

She runs the blade down my sternum causing me to scream out in agony, the warmliquid running down and off my chest, “now, now Miky. I’m saving that for your12th birthday which is next year. I don’t want a teenager you see, Iwant a boy. A boy who needs to be taught strength.” She deepens the cut. A loudscream leaves my lips as tears run down my face, my body in anguish, “that’s agood boy.” She coos.

*ENDFLASHBACK JAMIES POV*