His breath came out foggy despite the fact that he couldn’t feel any temperature. He walked across the endless, black sea of dreams and thoughts. Everywhere he looked, through the water was a new memory. Finally he found what he was looking for, a tangible fragment. Sitting on a pink, princess, plastic chair sat a little girl. She wore a stained, puffy, blue dress, and a crown missing most of the gems. “Here you are Mister Fluffigins, your hot chocolate.” She poured the oddly red water from her little flowery teapot into a cup. The rhino teddy bear it was for had a permanent smile stitched into it’s face. She suddenly noticed him. “Hello! Would you like to “sAvE!” play with me?” A happy smile danced upon her lips. “Of course.” One of the other stuffed playthings, a gray otter, dissolved into ashes. He wiped the ashes off the seat before sitting. The chair was strangely large and he had to spread his wings a bit. “Hot cocoa?” “That would be delightful.” She poured more of that strangely colored liquid. “Say? Would you know where I can Alora?” “But I am Alora?” “Yes, but not my Alora, I’m afraid I lost her.” “Mom says if you lose it, you don’t deserve it.” “Fair point, I…” He stared into the cup. There was something in the water. He swirled a bit trying to understand it. It finally dawned on him. It was a few small pieces of skin. He had to stifle down his breakfast. “Don’t you want to try it?” He looked up, her voice was strange. Blood was splattered across her face and her eyes were cold. Her present was bleeding into her past. He brought the cup up to his lips and took a slight sip. He couldn’t taste it as expected. No magic could make any dream quite that realistic. “So about Alora, do you know where she is?” “Maybe.” “Can you show me?” She hoped up from her chair and grabbed hold of Mister Fluffigins. Walking around the table she grabbed hold of his hand. He got up and she led him further into the darkness. The images in the water became more and more recent. Someone forcing a knife into her hands, a little boy surrounded by his family’s corpses. Her punishment for failing her mission to kill him. When he helped escape that despicable place. She’d kill him if she knew what he seeing, he- Her younger memory squeezed his hand tighter. He longed to hold her tightly and go back, to protect her from all this. But it wouldn’t help.

 The closer to the present, the faster he could wake her up. They finally reached the last thing she remembered. His face yelling for her to stay awake after she had been cursed. 
 “Is that really how I look?” He turned to look at the little girl. The point of the walking wasn’t for him to find her, it was for her to remember. He knelt down next to her. She was trembling, not wanting to remember. 
 “I’m sorry, but I need you.” He placed his hand against her head and pulled her forehead to his. Once the spell was cast he pulled away. Mister Fluffigins fell with a soft thud. She stared in silence. Her breath now came out clouded and she was shivering. He wrapped his coat around her and picked her up. Spreading his four, giant, black wings, he made sure she was secure before pushing off the ground. He soared as fast as he could which only made her colder. Her breath was slowing. She was leaving him. He flew into the darkest part. Suddenly he emerged from the black nightmare. He crashed, harshly into a nightstand which broke instantly, then into the wall that cracked loudly. He could hear a loud yelp come from Penelope who had been sitting in a chair across the room. He rushed to limp shape on the bed. He gently lowered her spirit back to her body.

His own body lay in the next room over. “Novae? Is that you?” Penelope looked around the room without possibility of seeing him. He ran back to his body. He awoke, warm once more. Tripping, not used to real legs, he made his way to the other room. She was awake, talking to Penelope. Almost no trace showed on her face. He stumbled to her and wrapped his arms and wings wrapped tightly around her.

“I always figured…I’d d..die somewhere warm. Some beautiful paradise.” Hot blood was trickling from his mouth. He couldn’t move without wincing. She held his hand in her’s, stroking his short, messy, white hair. She used to tease him for it, saying he looked like a grandpa. “You shall not consume the fruit of death, no matter how sweet it may seem. I won’t let you.”

 He raised his scarred hand to her face. Tightening his jaw with pain. “I’m so glad you came back.”

His words caught her off guard. She was surprised at his affection. She tried desperately to wipe away her tears. She couldn’t bear to watch him die again. She wanted to be back home, walking beside him through the rose gardens. 

 Elsewhere the soldiers charged through tunnels. She could hear the metal footsteps echoing. 

 “We’re in here! Please! He’s hurt!!” She screamed as loud her lungs could bare, squeezing his hand tighter. 

The soldiers found them and helped her to carry him to safety. Her leg was broken and her head was still bleeding.

 She slept for days. She only knew cause she startled the maid changing the pillow case. The maid told her what day it was. She put on a simple dress and limped through the intricately decorated halls.  She checked his room, but he wasn’t there. He wasn’t in the garden or the throne room either. Finally checking his study, she found him. He was half asleep. Resting his chin on his hand, paperwork scattered on the desk. He didn’t wake up when she walked in. 
 “Greetings, your majesty.” She bowed and waited for his response. He blinked awake. 

 She could hear the sound of footsteps as he walked closer. She felt a hand on her shoulder and rose her head. She couldn’t read the expression on his face. Concern? Regret? He hugged her gently. As always, he smelled of sweet roses and honey tea. She smiled and squeezed him tightly. He winced slightly and she began to let go. He wouldn’t let her. As if she would leave again. She slowly bent down so they were both sitting on the floor, glad to get off her leg. They sat there for several minutes. 
 Neither of them let go. She leaned her back against the comfy armchair. It wasn’t till she stroked the hair out of his face that she noticed he had fallen asleep. Her leg fell asleep after ten minutes. One of the maids came in and she signaled for her to be silent and for her to come closer. The maid came closer and upon seeing the sleeping king, snickered. The maid had never seen him so peaceful or trusting of anyone. She quietly asked for a blanket. The maid helped her put the blanket on him. She rested her head on his and fell  fast asleep.

They ran through the muddy forest. He couldn’t outrun them, he had to find something. Eventually he found a broken bus. The front was propped open and they squeezed in, then he closed the door. He held his little sister as close as he could with his hand over her mouth. She was only eight, because of her sprained ankle he had to carry her.

Suddenly they heard a clicking. His blood froze. He could hear his heartbeat thudding in his ears and tried to calm down. The clicking got closer. They could feel the heavy footsteps echoing through the metal of the bus. There was a tiny gap in the metal and he could see it’s dark blue skin. He squeezed his sister tight before gesturing her to silently climb up into the bus. If they were caught here, they were dead. She managed to get into the bus. He was too big to fit. Suddenly a green, sickly eye peered through the crack. He had to stifle a scream. It backed away then he suddenly heard a crash. The bus was sent flying. It crashed a few yards away.

His head was spinning. Where is she? He looked into the main bus to see her lying on the window frame. He peered through the hole to see it walking toward them. It hopped onto the bus and peered at her from the top. He silently got out of the bus and circled till he could climb up behind it. He pulled out the dagger he had found at the last convenience store.

It was slow, it knew they couldn’t run. It picked her up and lifted her above it’s face. It opened it’s jaws wide. He jumped down and plunged his knife through it’s head. It shrieked and his blood curled at the sound. It felt like his ears were going to burst. It threw her to the side and reached up to grab him. He held onto the knife as it thrashed violently. Warm, black goo excreted from the wound. It covered and burned his hands. He wanted to scream, but he had to hold on. If he let go it would continue to try to eat them. It grabbed his arms and dug it’s sharp fingers deep into his arms. He screamed in pain. As he was about to let go he jerked the knife back and it sliced down it’s head. It faltered, but kept thrashing. After a few minutes it fell limp. He collapsed to the floor.

The giant slash on it’s neck was beginning to heal. He pulled out his knife and stabbed it into it’s head repeatedly. He tried to calm down and when he did he cut through it’s skinny neck. He ran to a large puddle and rubbed the water on his arms as fast as he could. It’s blood was burning his arms and was getting into his bleeding arms. He kept rubbing till enough of the pain was gone. He ran to his sister who was unconscious. She didn’t seem hurt other then her ankle. He placed his jacket under her head while he went through his bag that was still in the bus. Thankfully he had grabbed a first aid kit and extra bandages. He didn’t have the patience or pain tolerance to sew himself up so he made due with what he could. By the end his fingers and arms were fully covered in bandages.

He went back over to it. It was tall and dark blue. Extremely skinny so it must have been hungry. Their skin and bones are extremely stretchy so they can fit whatever size creature they eat. This one was strangely bigger and more of a darker blue then the others. He had seen a few like this before but wasn’t sure what the difference was. He found a semi empty bag in the bus and stuffed it’s head into it along with an old towel.

He was covered in grease and blood. He wrapped his sisters arms around his neck and tied a blanket around her so she wouldn’t fall off. He made sure to grab his dagger before he started walking. They continued on their way out of the city. They both needed medical attention. He had to find a doctor to make sure his sister hadn’t hurt her head too bad. He didn’t notice the black veins spreading up his arms.

“There were fifty guys! They all surrounded me with big knifes! -no Guns! Most of them had uh-rifle guns. I didn’t think I could take them by myself. They came at me all together! And I dodged them left and right! If it wasn’t for my trusty…” He flayed his hands in all directions in a babbling display of charades. He kept changing the amount of assassins and what their abilities were. He was so dramatic and enthusiastic his cheeks were a bright pink. She just liked to see him smile so happily. “Did Darwin help?” “Nope, he stood there and just watched, even if I had been losing-which I wasn’t! He probably would have just laughed.” She looked to the dark haired man sitting next to her. As usual his expression was rather cold. But there was a twinkle of humor in his eyes. The longer she looked the more his mouth tugged into a grin. He finally noticed her gaze and turned away from her. His ears were turning red.

  He finished with his story about his triumphant victory then headed to bed saying how exhausted he was. She leaned closer to Darwin and whispered in his ear. 

“So what exactly happened?” His cheeks were slightly red. “Probably from the cold,” she thought. He turned to her and smiled slightly. “He got his ass beat by a little girl with a knife and no powers.”

Warning: Blood and violence

She ran through the fields a lantern in hand. Hot blood dripping down her arm. Her lungs felt like they were burning. She had to get to them as fast as she could. “Awoooo!” Her blood boiled with rage. She finally got to the village. She ran into the inn and heaved with each breath. “What is the meaning of this! Get out scum! We don’t need a rat like you dirtying up this place!” She smiled. “What! You want be thrown out!” Someone burst in behind her. “Werewol…!” Suddenly a monster came crashing through the door. It pounced on the man and tore out his throat and organs. It slowly raised it’s head and it’s throat rumbled with a growl. Everyone in the inn stared in fear. Finally one of them tried to run and the werewolf jumped after them. The inn exploded in a bloody mess. The beast tore through flesh and bone. It grabbed someone by the face and tore it from the body. It feasted on their flesh. Blood was all over the building. It’s fur was covered. When it finished eating it ran back outside. Screams could be heard. Children crying for their mothers, men yelling to fight. She walked through the pools of blood and out the door. She smiled happily at the corpses. They deserved this fate for what they had done to her. She gently patted her large stomach. “I won’t let the evil of this hell taint you as it did me.” The werewolf walked back to her. She sat down and it placed it’s head in her lap. She sang a lullaby for her beautiful guardian. “My sweet dear. Mother loves you.” Blood poured from it’s mouth as it smiled. There was pieces of flesh hanging from it’s teeth.

He wouldn’t leave. Everyday the same fluffy, black kitten would come to her window. She would never hesitate to open it and welcome him in.

She was washing last nights dishes. Loud 80’s music played as she swayed from side to side. Her sweater sleeves were pulled up and her brown, curly hair pulled back. She used a spoon as a microphone and sang the lyrics as loud as she dared. She finally spotted the small bundle of fur in the window. “Oh!” She rushed over and lifted up the window. He mewed in greeting. “Hi sweetie! Don’t you look as dashing as ever?” She gently lifted him up as he let out a loud, but croaked purr. She held him as she grabbed him a bowl. She had bought special milk just for him. She didn’t know what happened to his mom. He lapped it up as she finished the dishes. Once they were both done she picked him up and twirled about the room as he purred. She rubbed her cheek against his soft fur and held him close. “You’re all I need.” She looked sadly at him. He meowed then reached out his little paw to her face. She bent her face down so his paw was resting on her cheek. “I don’t need him, not anymore.” Unpacked boxes lay around the room. Newly packed boxes sat by the door. Her ex’s sister would come pick it up tomorrow.

He came a little earlier today while she was baking a pie. She gave a tiny nibble, he licked his lips. After the pie was done she laid down on the couch. She hadn’t gotten around to moving it into the correct spot yet. The kitten laid down against her stomach. He slept splayed out with his tummy exposed. She wrapped her arms around him and softly kissed his head. He stretched his head closer to her in response.

It was raining and she was getting worried. She hoped it was only him staying dry. She stayed up as late as she could waiting for him. He had never missed coming before.

It had been two days, she had just started to cry again when she heard a quiet meow. She whipped her head up to see him. She smiled and ran to him. He was limping and really dirty, his coat was soaked. She wrapped him in a fluffy blue towel and gave him some warm milk to drink while she grabbed some bandages. She held him next to her for hours. She brought him to the vet who said he had most likely been hurt by a human. But that if she took good care of him he would be okay. She brought him home.

Paint was everywhere. She was practically covered in it. She was painting her room a soft cinnamon color. He slept soundly next to the brushes. When she finally finished she cleaned the brushes and turned on the bath. He awoke at the sound of running water. He followed her into the bathroom and slept on the soft carpet as she soaked in the bath. He woke up after a few minutes and jumped up onto the edge. She gently washed the dirt from his fur. He purred loudly and lovingly. She picked him up and held him close. She started sobbing into his fur. She wrapped him up in a towel and after changing into some clean clothes grabbed some hot cocoa for her and some warm milk for him. She dried him off and started one of her favorite movies. He sat comfortably on her lap as she stroked his fur.

He never left her again and she never left him.

Her silky dress fell in pools around her. She allowed rings and chains of silver and sapphire jewels to grace her soft skin. Her large, gorgeous cat lay beside her, it’s belly rumbling with a purr. She stretched out her delicate fingers and softly gestured to the golden boy out in the field.

“Darling!” He stood up from where he had been picking flowers. The fields blew strongly around him. They could not compare with his smile. He ran back to her smiling and giggling. He hopped over the crystal clear creek and stopped just before he reached her. He almost fell forward with the momentum which only made him laugh more. He proudly held up the beautiful, purple flowers he had picked.

She singed a soothing lullaby as he braided her hair, intertwining it with the stems.

The birds chirped in the tree’s above and the creek could be easily heard from where they sat. She rubbed her hands against the soft, plump moss on which they sat.

He finished and looked proudly at his work. He had saved a few flowers. He placed one on the head of the cat. It mewed tiredly. He slid one of the others behind his mother’s pointed ear. Tired of holding them he gave the rest to his mother. She gently pulled him to her lap, still humming. She placed a flower behind his ear and held him close. He snuggled closer as she cradled him in her arms. He fell soundly asleep.

When he awoke he ran back out to the field. He looked back and yelled for his mother. She took her time to stand, using her cat as support. She gracefully seated herself upon her feline steed. It easily moved despite her weight. “Go to him, Stella.” The great feline stood up on it’s mighty paws and galloped to The Sun. When she reached him she gently picked him up, he sat on her lap. They raced through the field under the The Sky. A nebula of stars swirled above and a large half moon hung heavy. A full, but young sun glistened and shown brightly.

‘Come along and walk with me.” Her gorgeous blue, velvet dress dragged behind her. Embellished with silver and amethysts. Her long flowing black hair was pulled neatly into a braid. Her tired eyes did nothing to diminish her ethereal beauty. A large black cat walked beside her. On it’s large forehead among it’s long hair was a silver moon that shown delicately.

“Coming, Mother.” Behind her walked a young man. His short, blond wavy hair highly contrasting that of his mothers. His orange and red suit was embroidered with bright gold thread. Unlike his mother he was wide awake.

Long ago the moon had been the only light. But it had been cursed so that it was always tired and could only sleep once every thirty days. This cast the world is darkness and very little work could be done. But when her sun was born The Sky, her father blessed him so that he could shine brighter then even his mother. Now they worked together side by side.

They walked along on a worn, broken path. Beautiful flowers filled the air with sweet smells which delighted the nose. Both the Sun and Moon were above them. They could rarely be in the same place. She linked arms with her sun as she walked. He had grown even taller since she last saw him. “How I missed you, Sol my dear.” “You have me now.” “But only for a little.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. It broke her heart without fail every time he had to leave. “We shall see each other again.” She could feel herself fading. She stopped and gently brushed her hand against her sun’s cheek. He leaned into her touch. She kissed his pale forehead. She faded into an array of millions of stars. They could be only where their light shined. As the eclipse ended so did their chance to see each other. “Farewell, Luna.”

His head started hurting and his chest was burning. “Albern? You okay?” Nina stopped and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. He was bent over with pain. “H…” “What?” “Hu…HuN..” “…?” “HuNgrY!” He snarled. Suddenly he stood up and towered over her. His eyes were red and black. His long tongue swayed back and forth with drool dripping from it. His sharp teeth had never looked more terrifying. “Aaah!!” She ran away as fast as she could. “Albern! please!” He ran close behind her. She tried to lose him but he stayed on her heels. He jumped to bite her but she turned down an alley and he hit the brick building. He had to regain his balance which gave her enough time to turn down an alley. The alley ended not far ahead. She turned back but he was there. Blood poured like a scarlet waterfall down his forehead. He was licking it from around his lips. She was scared and tears ran down her face. She was crying so hard she could hardly breath. “Help me!! Please someone!” He seemed to know she couldn’t get away, he had started to walk. “Albern! Please I need you! You have to wake up!!” He swayed closer. Was it the injury? He suddenly stopped and turned away whimpering. “Albern? Are you there?” She slowly and carefully walked closer. He had his against the wall and his hands were on his head. His hands and head was bleeding. He was scratching his head and pulling his hair. Trembling and whimpering he started to bang his head against the building. She gently placed her hand on his head. He quickly pulled away from her, but he wasn’t trying to hurt her. She was still scared, but she sat down next to him. He stopped hitting the building. “Albern?” He shifted to where he was sitting beside her. His knees were against his chest and his head was hidden behind them. She could hear him silently sobbing. He was mumbling something under his breath. She could only make out some of the words. He was calling himself a monster and other harsh comments. She reached up and stroked his curly and messy hair. He tensed for a moment but eventually relaxed. She pulled him closer so she could hug him. He rested his head on her shoulder while she petted his hair.

He may be a monster, but he was her monster. And she would always love her monster.

His head had finally stopped bleeding. She had some band aids in her bag that she had used. He was holding her hand tightly. Like she was an illusion that might disappear at any moment. They walked back to his apartment. He had apologized every breath of the way. She was just happy to be okay. She only had a little blood on her from his head. “You better clean your cut when you get inside.” “I will, I’m so sorry. I know you don’t really want to be around me anymore so I’ll just..” he couldn’t bring himself to look her in the eyes. “Do you think I care about you so little that you could scare me off? No, You’re stuck with me, Albern Raith. Till you want me to leave.” She stood on her tip toes and kissed his cheek. He finally looked at her. His expression was so many things at once. Sad, tired, surprised, but it settled on loving. He kissed her hand before letting go. “See you soon then?” “See you.”

“What are you doing, Nesa?” He continued to stroke the beautiful, but matted kitten. “She was hungry.” He pulled himself to his feet. The kitten brushed against his leg. He bent down to pick it up. “We don’t have time for this.” The wind was blowing incredibly strong through the city. People kept losing their hats and papers. He placed the kitten in the large inside pocket of his trench coat. It snuggled deeper into his pocket. He pulled his coat closed so it wouldn’t move around too much. “You are not bringing that thing with us to the lair.” “Oh come on Laya, how can you say that to a cute baby? I’m taking her home.” Her confident expression shifted uncomfortably as she looked at his smiling face.

They walked into an abandoned building. He continued to play with the kitten as he walked. She stepped to the middle of the building and the floor began to descend around them. It lowered to their lair. Computers and large screens were everywhere. Countless gadgets laid around. She walked and sat down in front of one of the computers. He went to the kitchen and got out a smelly tuna sandwich to give the kitten. “Oh yeah, I forgot he was here.” On one of the screens was the separate room. In it was a single chair. On the chair was one of the heroes. He was bloody from their fight. “I’ll deal with him.” She got up and headed to the back. He watched on the screen. She walked into the separate room. He hummed a random tune as she repeatedly beat the hero. He smiled and petted the cat. She came back with blood on her hands. “Didn’t get much out of him. Get rid of him.” He looked at her and she flinched. “Sure.” He got up. She was always confused by him. He was simultaneously the kindest person she knew, and the most wicked unfeeling monster she had ever met. He was always smiling with a cold look in his eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. He walked to the the separate room. The heroes face was bloody and swollen. He was no longer wearing a mask. He didn’t recognize him though. The only noise was the occasional drip from the wet cloth in his hands. He patted the hero’s face with it. “Wh..why are you helping me. Just kill me already.” He just stared at him. He slowly turned his head like a dog. “Do you want to die?” “What?” “I though heroes would always want to keep living.” “I’m not gonna tell you anything. So just get it over with.” The hero’s chest heaved with the effort of talking. “Your Executioner right? Her sidekick?” “I guess.” “How can you stomach it? Knowing what she does?” “…..What else is there?” “You’re joking.” “….” “You’re not.” He looked at him like he just couldn’t fathom him. “You could be anything. There are plenty of things you could do that don’t involve hurting anyone!” “Would it be more fun?” “It could be.” He stared at the wall. There could a storm of thoughts going on in his mind, but he didn’t show it. “Can I bring my cat?”