Power of the 8 Elements

Chapter Forty Four

Cel and I had another date at the movies to finish what had been interrupted. We returned home and found the kitchen empty.

"Mom, we're home," Cel said, placing her car keys on the cabinet by the door.

No answer.

"Mom?" Cel said.

"She's probably upstairs," I said.

We went upstairs. Cel knocked on the door of her room.

"Or maybe she fell asleep watching Law and Order again," she said, opening the door. "Hey, Mom, what's for-?"

Both of us paused and stared. She and Proteus were literally kissing. I'm not sure that they noticed us for the next three seconds, but when they saw us standing in the doorway looking traumatized they stopped. They stepped away from each other.

"Heh," Celestia said, "How much of that did you see?"

"All of it," Cel said.

I looked at Proteus, "Can I talk to you?" I said, "Alone."

He nodded, and I led him outside to the porch. We sat on the porch swing and stared out at Cel and her family's incredibly large backyard, complete with a pool.

"You know I was feeling a lot of emotions the night you showed up," I said.

"Oh, yeah?" Proteus said, turning.

"And not a lot of them were very pleasant."

"I understand."

"Why? Why would you abuse me in such a way that made me afraid to go home? I begged the people I met to take me somewhere else. Somewhere I could escape from you and Neptune, but they refused-"

"Because you were a dark one. Lucifer, I'm not sure there's ever a way that I can explain how sorry I am."

"Apology not accepted...you cut me." I said, showing him the scar that he'd done. "You actually cut me. You nearly beat me to death, talk about your wife's death and now you're hitting on my girlfriend's mother and then expect me to forgive you?! Tell me how fair it is that I'm not able to date a light one, but you're allowed to do so. Where is the balance in our messed up family? Because we don't seem to have one."

Proteus looked at the moon then at me. "You were different from most kids. And I have no idea why, but Neptune never took a liking to you. If she could get you alone for just one minute, she would've definitely stabbed you to death. I'm not sure they're supposed to do this anymore, but Neptune and I had an arranged marriage. A few weeks ago Celestia and I started dating, so in case you're wondering why I spent so many family dinners away from you, that's why."

"But why would you attack me?"

"I just figured it was something Neptune expected me to do. Anyways, she was getting close to finding out my secret, and..."

"She died and never found out."

"Exactly. I know you may not forgive me, and I don't blame you, but just know that...things have changed now. And I'm not the man who you thought I was." He stood up and then left.

I sat outside. Cel came outside and sat next to me.

"Hey, are you okay?" She said.

"None of us are okay," I said.

She kissed me and then lay her head on my shoulder, and we looked at the moon together.