Once Rem was in my arms, it felt like I held the world in them. Midna's body disintegrated around me as we fell from the sky. Time resumed when a blow of magical energy sent us hurtling toward the ground, which was faster than I could react to.
Luckily, Vera caught us in a levitation spell before we hit the floor. It was intriguing how she could cast an incantation without uttering a word and at lightning speed. Setting us down on the ground, the young witch struggled to get up with Ruzgard's help.
Caden helped his brother return to where he was before, heading toward us. Fenris brought Lilith over as Shade ran ahead, shifting back into a tiny cat before stopping before me. Her paws reached my knees when I turned my gaze back onto Rem.
She was the only one who mattered to me among all who were there. Even though they were unknown, especially when the danger had passed, I could only stare at my little Luma's sleeping face.
I didn't know how pleased I could be to see her chest rise and fall with each breath. It didn't appear like she was waking up, which worried me. She was utterly naked in my arms, too. All her clothes were burned off, and part of mine had been too, but luckily, I wasn't in the same state as her.
A soft sigh left my lips as I wiped Rem's hair out of her face before pressing my forehead against hers. The warmth that radiated from her skin into mine was something unreal.
"Rem…" I mumbled, voice shaking.
Even though she hadn't opened her eyes, at least she was alive, and I couldn't ask for more. A growl came from one of the twin boys as their glare was fiercer. They weren't the only ones watching, yet I couldn't help but meet their eyes.
They instinctively glanced away soon after. I didn't know what my expression was, but it appeared like the boys didn't like it, and I couldn't care less. I was utterly unimpressed by them. Unlike the twins, Vera grabbed Rem's hand without hesitation, not caring how she was in my arms.
Leaving the grumpier one behind, Caden took off his shirt and handed it to me so I could cover Rem. A soft shine came from her sister's hands, turning to her parents, who slowly approached us.
Lilith seemed weaker than when I first met her; then again, the gate had always messed with her internally.
Or was it something else that made you like this? Or is it the age?
"Mom... I can't feel her." Vera announced, making my heart stop.
"What?" I mumbled, gripping tighter on Rem's shoulder.
Fenris slowly set Lilith down next to us before heading towards his injured son, who was still healing. Caden had reset the broken bone, so all Aiden needed was to heal, but sometimes, it would take a bit to kick in, especially when it was an open fracture like he had.
Even though Lilith seemed exhausted, she touched Rem's head, closing her eyes. A blue shine came from her fingertips as we weren't out of the woods yet. My little Luma wouldn't be joining us soon if the goddess were to be believed.
"Rem, where are you?" Lilith mumbled, only quickly to stop.
Her body couldn't handle the magic any longer as she reached towards her head, wincing soon after. Noticing her pain, her husband ran towards her again.
"Lily, are you okay?" He whispered as she laid her forehead on his chest.
"I… I'm okay." She answered, voice barely audible.
"No… You aren't." He sighed, holding her close.
In her condition, there was no way she could perform what needed to be done.
You… seem more unstable than the last time I saw you.
It was good to see Fenris treat her like she deserved, though. Even though she was hurt and tired, Vera stood up, attempting to summon a portal to transport us.
"We can't do anything here. Let's return to the manor." She announced as I shook my head, unable to believe what they were about to do.
No, they don't know.
Rem confessed to me back in Azear that it was the first time she had been near one of those things. Then again, she never told me much about her past. Either way, I wouldn't let them take her in there.
Who knows what will happen to you in this state?
"You can't take her in there," I declared, gripping Rem tighter.
Vera glared at me as her nasals flared. Understandably, she seemed stressed, and I was adding to it. However, I also suspected she didn't like me, not that I blamed her.
I'm not an enjoyable person. It was a miracle this luma loved me. Fuck… Rem…
"What? What the fuck do you know?" Vera lashed out at me.
The usual me probably would have said something snarky back to the human girl, but this was Rem's family, which meant I had to try to keep my cool. Although it was hard, I wasn't in the giving mood after what had happened.
Even so, with Rem in my arms, I didn't want to bother much with them.
For now, I'll play nice. If you did this yourself, I won't be able to help you.
After all, witches were better equipped to assist Rem than me if something magical in nature had happened.
"Back in Azear, a shadow beast attacked, and when she touched, it invaded her body, which is why you can't take her into the Soul Cairn. Your brothers were there in the aftermath. They can tell you if you don't believe me." I answered, meeting with her glare.
"So, you saw us there?" Caden's voice squeaked, and his question shifted my gaze to him.
"More like heard. We were in a room you were about to open. Back in Azear before that... elf interrupted you." I answered, trying to hide my scorn for Wyatt.
My revelation caused the little wolf's cheeks to turn light pink, but I wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or frustration. He turned to Aiden, who was still healing from the fracture.
"Hey! I—" He started as a fight was about to ensue between them, but before they could argue, I turned back to Vera, whose eyes twitched and hands were tightly clenched into fists.
Be careful, little witch; you might blow a vein or two if you blow up.
"I won't let you hurt her because you're in a hurry to save her. Just be glad she's alive for now." I added, shifting my gaze to Rem's sleeping face.
My heart ached as I winced, unable to hear her voice. "One step at a time. Right, Rem?" I whispered.
I honestly was happy that she was alive. Just seeing her have color on her lips was enough for me after seeing it all go away moments before, but I also wanted to hear her stupid voice ring in my ears.
"You're a heartless murderer! Don't pretend you care for her!" Vera yelled, standing up and trying to look threatening.
I turned to her immediately. This little bitch was about to get me going while I was attempting so hard to be a good boy for Rem.
"Vera, enough!" Lilith called out, trying to quell the situation.
This time, I wouldn't stay quiet.
You… know nothing of the time I've spent with Rem! You have no right to judge us!
"Rem's right. You're a fucking bitch." I huffed, triggering her to flare up.
"What did you just say?!" She snarled as her eyes gave off a bright hue.
"You act like you know everything. Don't you get tired of trying to be a know-it-all?" I questioned, holding Rem tighter to me.
If only… we… could be one being that way… I wouldn't feel this lonely without hearing you.
"You fucking ass hole!" Vera snapped, stomping towards me as I shook my head.
She wanted to appear strong, yet in my eyes, she was nothing more than a scared girl trying to understand what was happening.
"You're right. I used to be a heartless murderer right until the point I met your pushy sister. To her, it didn't matter how many times I attempted to hurt or shove her away." I paused, shifting my gaze toward the little Luma in my arms.
"What?" She breathed, clasping onto her shirt.
"Rem didn't know went to stop and kept coming until she shattered all the walls I had placed to keep everyone away." I simpered, keeping my focus on the girl in my arms.
I honestly didn't care if they believed me, but Rem wasn't going anywhere without me.
Never again.
The fresh blood on my shirt from earlier reminded me of my failure.
I'll never neglect you again.
"So don't pretend you know me because of stories you've heard, or have you not noticed you're still breathing, even though you're tempting me to do otherwise? I'm still a murderer, but I'm not heartless, and that's because of your sister. " I huffed, keeping Rem close to me.
We would be at odds, as in her eyes, I saw nothing but rejection—not that I cared. I rolled my eyes, shaking my head slightly as my aura suddenly spiked, alerting everyone around me I was far from done.
"Unlike you all, I'm barely tired, and the bond no longer holds me back, little witch. So, ask yourself why you're still breathing." I turned back to Rem's sleeping face as this would mark the first time, in the longest time, that I would be annoyed yet wouldn't kill.
This time, it was out of my free will.
There are no orders or limitations.This luma has changed me.
"Just be grateful that your sister made me grow a god, damn heart!" I growled as my aura quickly diminished.
Vera turned her gaze away from me, shaking where she stood.
"Alijah..." Lilith called out, shifting my eyes onto her.
The genuine surprise on her face was unsettling to me. My eyes stung from crying earlier.
I guess my first impression of twenty years ago was a mortifying one.
In just a short time, being with Rem, she filled me up with things I thought I would never feel.
The daughter fulfilled a mother's wish. Fitting...
"Your daughter made your wish come true, Lilith. Though if she were to die, I can't say I could keep myself from reverting. No, I'd destroy this world the instance she leaves it for good." I breathed, feeling a tear trail down my cheek.
No… If you leave me… That can't happen again. How… can I get you back?
Fenris had been quietly assessing me the entire time before slowly standing up from Lilith's side. It surprised me he had been a good man to her, which wasn't expected from a silver blood. Then again, his offspring was the one who showed me the light.
So perhaps I was wrong about that, too. After all, Rem, being a half-silver blood, never bothered me.
"So, listen when I tell you she can't go there. I won't let you do anything to hurt her. So, don't make me injure you instead." I warned, wrapping my tail around my little Luma protectively.
Fenris grabbed a weird device from his pocket.
"Hah… Vera, stay with your Mom. I'll get us a ship." He announced, walking to the side.
An airship?!
Shivers ran down my spine as the dreadful noises within made my ears feel like they would blow, but it was better than using that realm. Instead of arguing further, Vera sat down behind Lilith, tearful and frustrated.
Relieved, I held onto Rem, not wanting to let her go, as Lilith traced her fingers on the little luma's hair before a smile rose on her lips.
"She really looks like she's sleeping." She breathed as Shade helped her stay up.
I nodded slowly, "Hopefully, she'll wake up from her dreams soon." I simpered, tracing my hand on my little Luma's cheek, which caused me to wince soon after.
That was when I noticed my hand was still bleeding from pulling the dagger out.
Those god artifacts are troublesome. If they could stop my healing like that, then Rem would have no chance against it. If I hadn't pulled it out… You'd be…
Luckily, the effect was localized to my palm, as any wounds I had gained in the previous battle had already healed.
"How did this happen?" Lilith asked, wanting to know how her daughter ended up in this situation, which was something I could barely understand myself.
Everything had happened so fast that I hardly had time to process it all, though something was utterly clear.
"Your daughter was being extra stupid," I answered, fixing myself so Rem rested on my chest while I wrapped my arms around her protectively.
By the gods, I love you.
It was terrifying even to think that she wouldn't open her eyes again, but I tried not to let it cross my mind. As Lilith stabilized, Shade found her way onto Rem's belly, curling into a small ball where the wound used to be.
"I see..." Rem's mother mumbled.
"It's complicated, but someone brought back your past life into the mortal realm," I informed.
Lilith raised her eyebrows, clenching her hands into fists before her expression turned into one I had come to know so well.
"So, this was Edna?" She scowled as her body shimmered lightly.
I glanced up at the sky, which had returned to its azure color.
"Seeing as she had Lilith's soul, I guess it was. However, I didn't see how Rem was stabbed. When I got here, she was already on the ground, and Lilith's hands were full of blood." I answered, much to Aiden's displeasure.
A glare came from him, finding me to blame for everything.
"Why did you leave her?!" He growled, eyes shimmering.
I shrugged, remembering the previous night. Every fiber of my being wished it were different. A weird, painful sensation rose in my chest, remembering everything I wanted to tell this little luma but couldn't.
"The stupid Rem didn't give me much of a choice with the retarded bond and her orders." I sighed, biting my lip.
My tail curled around Rem's waist tighter. It also helped cover her up better than the shirt, but I only wanted her to get closer to me. It seemed like the twin who yelled at me was about to leave, but before he could, Caden grabbed his brother by the shoulder, shaking his head.
"Aiden, it doesn't matter. We all failed her again." He sulked, pulling away from his brother before sitting close to me with his arms crossed.
"Again?" I mumbled.
In response to hearing me, Lilith shook her head slightly. "Oh, this isn't the first time this has happened. When she was younger, she followed her brothers to the manor's roof when Fenris and I were out. She fell from there, and... something similar to this happened." She paused, gazing at Rem.
"Though we weren't sure it would happen again. Rem also woke right after we quelled her." She continued with a bitter smile on her lips.
She also wore that phoenix crystal on her neck, which meant she could never control the soul cairn. By how she looked, it was a miracle that her sanity was still standing—something Fenris and her kids probably had a part in.
To me, though, what was more worrisome was that these gods wanted something with Rem's body, yet I couldn't help but feel like a pawn in a chess game.
Is that really Midna's goal? But those thoughts… Were they real?
"I see. So, this god has been trying to get into her body since she was younger?" I asked, wishing to know more, yet Lilith appeared unsure how to answer.
"Well, I don't know if it was the same one. Last time, it didn't speak. It might've been, but I truly don't know. Though, a few people died that day. She was more violent and wild than this time." Lilith bit her lip, glancing at Fenris, who was speaking on the device he had pulled out.
I had seen others with it when Rem and I were in towns, but she never entirely explained what they were for; she only told me that we had to avoid them at all costs.
"Fenris saved her that day, and today, it was you. Only red moon Lycans can reach her when she's in that state." She added, prompting me to hold Rem tighter.
This is more complicated than I thought. You've been hiding much more than you needed.Why? Did you think it would bother me? Stupid girl.
"Rem... you should've told me. Why didn't you tell me?" I asked my little luma, knowing I would get no response, but it didn't stop me from wanting one.
How I wish you'd open your adorable eyes and gaze at me like you always did.
"Obviously, she doesn't trust you." Vera took a jab at me, prompting me to growl at her, only for Caden to step in.
"If you think she doesn't trust him, the man she spent six months alone with until now while avoiding us. Fuck! She… must hate us!" The young wolf snapped.
"Caden…" Vera mumbled, wincing soon after.
From what I remembered, Rem said he was the more free-spirited, but that wasn't the case. At least at this moment in time, he was…
"This has nothing to do with trust! Rem said nothing to anyone because she didn't want to be locked up again! It was all we did for her! We failed her as her family in every way possible!" He slammed his fists into the ground as Vera bit onto her lip.
They were all a mess, and Rem was the only one who could bring them back together.
Silly, stupid girl, you were never a burden to them.
No, she was more like the glue that held them together. Just looking at how much each cared made it clear to me, filling me with relief. Rem would never be alone with them around.
And now… you have me, too. Stupid… Silly… girl… come home.