Chapter 58
And just like that, their world found a new routine.
It was strange to think upon. How natural it felt. Cira’s intensions were never to raise her new son, especially with Hanna, but now she wouldn’t have it any other way. The pain of her father’s death held strong vice grip on her for a while, but with time and her new family’s love. They helped her through the pain.
Perhaps what was a blessing, how quickly the Crew and the entire Cradle took Aaron under their wing. Giving the unconditional love, the poor boy never experienced in his life before he met Abyss. Cira was cautious at first. She heard the whispers in the halls, the nuns talking about the Crew’s grandson and what a blessing his and her own arrival was. She often wondered if Hanna new what these warriors were saying, does Hanna refer to Aaron as her own child. Possibly not. Still it was refreshing being around Cats Cradle. A kind hospitality Cira will never take advantage.
For people are known to change their minds.
In the early hours of the morning, on the Devil’s ship.
Cira and Aaron gathered around the twisted portal. Aaron playing with his new dinosaur toys in the corner. Cira moving back and forth in front of the portal, preparing it to open.
The portal started to hum to life.
Cira grinned, she turned to her son and called out “Put on your safety gear”
“Okay” he answered. He dropped his toys, he put on his safety googles and ear muffs. Grabbing his toys. He turned to his mother and gave her the thumbs up.
She gave him the thumbs up and turned to the machine. She flicked on the switch and the portal started whirling to life.
The portal seemed to work.
For a minute, it was stable and Cira started to walk towards the machine. After the minute past, it sparked and hissed. Power drained the city, plunging it into darkness. Cira growled, shaking her head. She marched over to the control panel and flicked the switch off.
While her back was turned. She didn’t notice the sparks of purple mist dripping from the portal. Creeping around the machine and disappearing into thin air.
The command switch flicked off and the portal shut down immediately. The town’s power restored. Everything went back to normal.
Cira turned to the portal and gripped her waist. “You need more power” she huffed.
Aaron took off his safety gear with disappointed huff. “It didn’t work”
“It didn’t” she agreed.
“So we failed”
Cira turned to her son and walked to him with a kind smile. “We have not failed. We only fail when we given up” She picked up into her arms. “What we have encountered” she spoke, gesturing to the dead portal. “Is a problem, a question that must be solved and once we have the answer”
“It will work?”
“It will work”
“Then we go inside and see the other world”
Cira frowned, she shock her head. “No my sweet one, it is only I who will go inside”
Aaron frowned at his mother. “But why not?” he asked confused.
“Because it is dangerous in there. I will not put you into harms way. When the time comes, you will stay with the Cradle until I return”
“you’re not going by yourself are you?”
“Hanna will come with me”
He smiled. “Good, don’t go alone!” he bent down and hugged her tight.
Cira chuckled “Fine, I won’t go alone, now come let’s see how Hanna and the girls are doing today”
He pulled back as they began walking away from the portal. “I like Hanna, she’s funny, she makes you smile”
Cira smiled, bending her head low. “I like her too”
“Have you told her you like her?”
“No”
“Why not?” he complained. “You should tell her”
Cira groaned as her shadow encased them. “I may, but let me talk to her, do not interfere”
“Okay, but only if you tell her”
Cira groaned as they teleported to the portal. She had a feeling today was going to be quite a long day.
Later, at the Cradle
Addams and Kit sat watching Hanna introduce Aaron to Extreme Tag. With Cira sitting perched precariously on the ropes above the pair. Encouraging him to climb up to her level. Persephone sat beside her friends, trying to ignore the game.
“Seriously how long until they wed” Kit joked, a hush enough whisper not to alarm Persephone. That was the idea. Unfortunately, this strategy failed and the blonde perked up glaring at the whispered implication.
“2 to 4” Addams replied with a content shrug.
“Days?” Kit laughed.
“Weeks”
“Oh god its going to take forever” Kit dramatically groaned. Flopping her body sideways into Addams.
The goth witch smirked. She kissed her lover’s head and assured “time will pass before you know it”
“maybe we can convince Aaron to help us”
“we could”
“Don’t involve the kid in your shenanigans!” Persephone warned. Distracting the couple’s attention to her. Eyebrows raised in matching judging matter. Matching smirks, daring Persephone to explain herself, much to their enjoyment.
Persephone held their gazes before it became too uncomfortable to stand. Shifting in her cross-legged seat. “They’re just friends” she spoke, with little to no trust in her own reasonings. “friends can co-share a kid?”
“sure” the couple agreed.
Kit leaned forward away from her girlfriend, stroking her chin. “Are you jealous?” Kit asked, suspiciously.
“What! No!” the blonde screeched.
“Oh yes you are!”
Persephone kicked Kit, sending the punk back into her girlfriend’s arms. “I am not Jealous!” Persephone growled.
“Yes you are!”
Persephone tried to kick her again, but Kit raised her leg and blocked the incoming foot.
“OOOORrrr” Kit spoke, drawing herself closer to Persephone. She indicated her head towards Hanna and Cira, and suggested “Do you want to join them?”
Addams eyes widen curiously.
Persephone glared, her face flushed despite her best wishes. “Of course not!” she hissed. With more startled embarrassment, then venom. “Do I want things to be different, yes, but I don’t like Cira”
“Yeah you’re going to have to try better then that”
“Oh shove it!”
“Hang on!” Addams insisted. She tapped the table and leaned over. “Be honest, why do you hate Cira?”
“She’s the Devil” Persephone answered.
“She’s not that bad” Addams dismissed, waving her hand. “She can be frightening and sneaky at times, but she isn’t the Devil”
“She is, she’s dangerous and one day, she’s going to kill us all”
Addams hummed, noting this information.
Kit did not, she smirked and whispered “do you want to fuck her”
Persephone’s blush brighten. Startled, she choked, stumbling for words. “-WH-WHA-WHY-WHAT”. She tried to explain herself, dismiss this wild accusation. However the words did not come to her easily and she wouldn’t dare admit to anyone, especially her closet friends, that she thought about it.
To add to the worsening situation she found herself in. Instead of her mind finding the right words to stop this conversation. Her mind started thinking about Cira and Hanna, what her life would be if they were her lovers. The idea sparked made the visions to vivid to bare and so, she shot up and ran away.
Kit turned to her girlfriend smugly and stated “that’s not a no”
“Or a yes”
“True, but wow that explains so much” Kit spoke with a wave of her hands, before she curled sideways into her girlfriend. Stretching her legs out on the bench. The lovers embraced each other as they watched their friends play Extreme Tag.
Pleasantly proud that Aaron was standing on the high tower with his hands raised in the air and the ladies beside him cheering at his victory. Addams and Kit both cheered the boy on.
Such a commotion drew Beatrice and Ava running across the yard to stand beside Addams and Kit.
“Alright who won?” Ava asked excitedly.
“Aaron” The teenagers answered.
“Ha” Ava cheered excitedly, she turned to her wife and nudged her. “He takes after you babe”
Beatrice turned to her wife and shrugged confused. “How can he take after me? I had nothing to do with his training on extreme tag”
Ava gave her a sideways knowing look.
Beatrice bit her lip, looking down to the ground as she spoke “I suppose I have been…teaching him a few tricks…while playing pool games”. She looked up as she continued “but the rest was up to them to teach”
“I knew it!”
Beatrice smirked, placing her hands on her hips as she insisted “Don’t act like I’m the only one teaching him, I saw you show him how to fight with a lightsabre”
“Babe it’s a right of passage for any kid”
“Ah huh”
“I’m not the only one!” Ava laughed, shaking her head lightly. “The girls have been training him with nerf guns. My mothers have been teaching him history. Camila has been teaching him how to cook. Serita the art of disguises and ninja stuff. Lilith the stick and Mary with bike mechanics”
Beatrice sighed, her lips curled as she stated “I just got a case of Deja vue”
“They’re apart of the family”
“Speaking of family, we have a meeting starting soon”
“Oh shoot yeah!” Ava turned past her wife to her niece and Addams. “You girls stick together. Where is Persephone?”
“She’s around” Kit answered. “You think we’re still in danger?”
“One must be prepared” Beatrice answered. “Go check on her, we will see you all for lunch”
“Okay aunties”
“See you all later!” Ava spoke. She turned to the tower and gave her daughter a thumbs up.
Hanna looked down, smiled and gave a thumbs up back.
Ava took her wife’s hand and led her lover back inside.
Sister Cara was heading stead fast to the kitchen. When Persephone came storming down the direction opposite. Hands clutched her jacket in strangle tight fists and shoes purposefully whacking the ground. Sister Cara was too busy in her mind to see the furious teenager coming her way.
Lucky her trained warrior nun senses picked up the sense of an incoming collision. She looked up and quickly jumped out of the way. Spinning around the blonde. “O” she said. She turned back to Persephone and called her name.
The teenager stopped and turned back to face the nun.
“What’s the rush dear?” Sister Cara asked. “Are you bored of extreme tag already?”
“I’m not in the mood for childish games” the blonde scoffed.
Sister Cara shock her head. “There is nothing wrong with childish games, it is good for one’s mind to rest from all the control and chaos of this life” the sister stepped forward. Hands clasped together, she studied the girl before her as she wondered aloud “why are you running from your friends”
“I’m not”
“It’s okay” the sister urged. She walked closer, still just a foot away from Persephone’s personal space. “Did something happen?”
Persephone scoffed, turning her gaze downward as she shook her head.
Sister Cara tried to meet her eyes as she asked, in softer whisper “or are you seeking something you want, but part of yourself refuses to take it”
Persephone’s eyes snapped upward in startled alarm. She was met with Cara’s soft warm smile and kind eyes. Persephone gulped for words. Words she wanted to admit, but too dreadfully afraid to utter, even if it is to kind sister Cara. “What would you do?”
“I will seek my happiness and the path of life and joy”
“But….”
“Persephone, this life is too cruel to go without pursuing one’s happiness. That’s why we get so many opportunities and so little time. It’s life’s way of telling us to keep going”
“Even when you’re unsure it’s right to do it”
“Especially those times”
Persephone did not realise she was crying. The tears were silent, even for their own maker to realise. The teenager suddenly shot forward and wrapped herself around Sister Cara. The force nearly sent Sister Cara to the ground.
“It’s okay” sister Cara whispered. She grasped the teenager in tight hug. Pouring as much energy and warmth into the embrace. Then hoped the teenager may open up more to what lies in this troubled mind.
“I want to go home”
“Then I’ll take you home” sister Cara pulled back, taking care to leave one arm wrapped tight around the teenager’s shoulders. “Perhaps I may offer more assistance to help ease your mind”
Persephone sniffled with a low shrug. “I don’t think anyone can help me”
“Well you haven’t heard my advice yet, I’m quite good”
And they began the walk towards the gates.
Persephone looked up and told her “thank you”
“Anytime” Sister Cara replied. “you are not alone”
Inside Mother Superion’s office.
The crew gathered around Ava. Watching the Warrior Nun take a stand in the middle of the floor. Feet planted and Halo in hands stretched out in front of her. Eyes shut and concentrating all her power on the Halo. White energy sparks flew off her body, the Halo gold glow was gentle, calm, unlike the growing mood around the office.
Soon Ava sighed, opening her eyes and turned to her family. “Yeah I don’t think this is working”
“All father can be stubborn, but I haven’t known him to be like this” Michelle shrugged, scratching the back of her head. “Are you reaching out with all your power?”
“Yes”
“We should take on a different approach” Beatrice suggest.
“The only way to contact him is through the Halo” Michelle stated.
“Or when the owner is in danger, perhaps we should trick the Halo into thinking its in danger to summon him”
“That will only work if the owner is in danger also”
“Well I can chase Ava around a few times” Lilith suggested.
Ava chuckled “Ah like the old days, you sure you’re fast enough to catch me now old lady”
Lilith smirk, leaning forward off the wall. “I can catch you before you leave this room”
“Yeah right” Ava laughed. She made a sideways step to the door, turned her face towards it and suddenly Lilith was by her side with arms crossed over her chest. Ava jumped away and cursed “Hey I wasn’t ready yet!”
“You moved, I say you were”
“Well would you at least give me a head start”
Lilith shrugged, walking a few steps closer to the rest of the gathered group. “Suppose I could be that generous”
“20 seconds?”
“10”
“15”
“You’ll have to try to kill each other to get that Halo to activate” Michelle suggested, disappointment ringing in her voice. “Let us not risk our lives to contact him”
Her girlfriends noticed how drained Michelle was feeling. They subconsciously reached forward and held Michelle’s hands.
Lilith and Ava frowned, turning to each other. A silent agreement that they weren’t going to physically harm each other like that just to hear from a ghost.
Beatrice watched her wife for a few moments before moving closer to her side.
The rest of the Crew started looking to each other for suggestions.
“Perhaps we could power you up” the Doctor offered. “Or the Halo, use my old portal machine to enhance the Halo’s power and wire it to communicate with us”
“Worth a shot” Ava shrugged.
The Leviathan sparked suddenly and the group jumped. They stared at the weapon, unsure if their exhaustion was finally playing tricks on their eyes. Ava gave her wrist a shake, trying to recreate the effect. The Leviathan stay silent.
“okay that was weird” Ava spoke.
The Halo sparked again, the glow erupted from within the weapon and flared outward for few seconds. Before dissipating with a low energy hum.
“Woah what the fuck!” Ava cursed surprised, flinching at the sudden outburst of the weapon.
Michelle got up from her seat and started moving around the desk. “How strange?” she whispered.
“Is it waking up finally?”
Leviathan sparked again, ripping itself out of Ava’s hand and hovering at the back of the room. The Halo started to spin, red and blue light dripped from the weapon and began filling it’s centre.
“FUCK RUN!” Michelle cursed, but it was too late.
They tried to run, but the Halo turned into a vortex of raw power. Sucking the family towards it. They tried with all their might to resist. Michelle ripped out her sword and forced it into the ground, gripping onto the handle for dear life as her feet began to rise off the floor. Lillith’s wings ripped out of her back and dug into the carpet. She grabbed her lover and held her close with one hand. Camila and Serita took hold of Lilith’s wing. Ava forced her fist into the ground. Beatrice slammed her spear into the ground, her feet struggling to get a grip on the ground. Superion and Jillian used the desk to protect them.
“HOW DO WE TURN IT OFF!” Beatrice shouted.
“AVA USE YOUR CONNECTION, FORCE IT TO STOP!” Michelle advised.
Ava nodded and turned to her Halo. She raised her hand and concentrated on the weapon. “turn off, turn off, turn off” she whispered repeatedly in panic voice.
The halo didn’t respond to her will.
Instead, that old man’s voice whispered in her mind “come to me”
Ava’s eyes snapped opened and she cursed “WHAT THE FUCK!”
The Leviathan roared and suddenly the family were pulled into the vortex. They screamed bloody murder. Crawling at the air to try and save themselves. Pushing others out of the path to save them.
They all fell through into the vortex.
The Levithan span around one last time, then all it’s power disappeared into the metal. The Halo dropped to the floor with a clang. Bounced twice, twirled and soon laid flat on the ground.
Footsteps echoed from outside the door, rushing to the room.
The office door burst open and in ran Hanna and her friends. They spilled into the room, skidding to a stop. They were ready to fight. Hanna with her wings out, flared to rip the intruders to shreds. Adams and Kit carrying batons they stole as they followed their panic friends across the grounds. Cira stop in front of the group, arm stretched out in front of Hanna and the others. She didn’t sense any demon activity in here, but she didn’t want her friends to get hurt. Lastly Aaron walked to the doorway, peeking his head around the corner into the room.
The group looked around confused.
“Where are they?” Hanna whispered confused. Her back wings shrinking, sneaking back under her clothes.
“what’s going on?” Aaron asked.
“Stay back my son” Cira requested. She walked a few steps away from the group and surveyed the room. Hanna walked past her, she was temporary distracted by the woman, following with her eyes. She noticed Hanna stop at the far back end of the room, kneel down and prod the Halo. Cira quickly joined her, kneeling by her side.
The others followed suit.
“Is that what I think it is?” Cira asked.
Hanna nodded.
Cira reached out to touch the weapon, but Hanna quickly grabbed her hand and held her back.
“Don’t” Hanna warned. The girls turned to face each other. Hanna’s fingers entangled with Cira’s. “The Halo will burn anyone who touches it, only the host or the next may touch it”
Cira nodded. “okay, I will hold back my curiosity” she smiled and leaned closer. “Only because you asked, darling”
Hanna smiled, rolling her eyes, before she turned back to the device. “stop it” she joked.
“never”
Hanna turned back to the Halo, she couldn’t hide the smile on her face. She prodded the Halo with her arm wing. “This shouldn’t be here, it should be with mum, but…I don’t know where they could be”
“Yeah this isn’t right” Kit agreed. “This place is a mess, Grandmother Suzanne is going to have a field day”
“Where did they go?” Hanna asked confused.
“And how did they get out?” Addams asked. “There is no way we would miss them. We would have heard them leave and all the windows are closed”
“Whatever happened, there was a massive energy surge” Cira pointed out. She turned to the Halo and added “It’s coming from that”
Suddenly the three looked to the device full of dread.
Cira looked to them confused. “What?” she asked. She focused on Hanna. “Darling what is it? This device it wouldn’t… it’s a weapon, it couldn’t possibly-“ the single tear made Cira stop herself. She reached over and wiped the tear away with her free hand.
Hanna sniffled “there’s no way it would do that to the host and my mum she would never allowed it to happen to them…” she turned to the others. They were already starring at her. Kit and Addams had come to the same conclusion as Hanna. Cira had a quiet look in her eye, one full of reassurance and hope. The teen felt incredible glad she was here to give her this hope. “where did they go?” she whispered concerned.
Little patters of footsteps echoed behind the girls. Running to between Hanna and Cira. Throwing himself onto Hanna. The girls let go of each other, Hanna wrapped her arm around Aaron and held him tight. Cira stroked his hair.
The group focused on the Halo.
Hoping their fears haven’t come true.