The ToyMakers Volume 1

Chapter 17: Monster in sheep's skin

Welcome back to The ToyMakers everyone I hope that you are enjoying it. Please click the video it fits this chapter very well. Anyway please remember to VOTE and COMMENT it means a lot to me plus I like chatting with you guys. XOXO BUTTERBALL. (Dedicated to Aaron_Ledgers Who is the artist who created not only the cover but also the lovely picture up above. Show him some love by checking out his work.)

"And I'm trying to find my peace of mind. Behind these two white highway lines. When the city goes silent. The ringing in my ears gets violent. She's in a long black coat tonight
Waiting for me in the downpour outside. She's singing "Baby come home" in a melody of tears. While the rhythm of the rain keeps time."
________________________________________________________
-Corina-

I flexed my fingers testing them before I looked up at Taiga. "Are the tips of my fingers supposed to feel strange after this ritual? They feel constricted," I asked her as I stared at my hands.

"Yes they are, that's the sign that the ritual worked. The constricted feeling you have in your fingers is actually each one of my invisible puppet strings wrapped around each one of your fingers. That along with my true name helps you control me better and it allows you to actually activate my true demon form," he explained.

I continued to stare at my hands then I looked at Opal who sat on a nearby hay bale in the barn. "Would I be able to do that with, Opal too?" I asked Taiga.

"No," he told me as he picked at the stitches on his hand.

"Why not? Opal is just like you," I asked as I frowned.

"It's impossible to form a contract with, Opal because when he came to life his body didn't hold a soul in it and because he didn't come to life through the power of a contract," Taiga explained.

"Corina! Corina, where are you? What was that beam of light?!"

I looked down out of the barn window to see Matthew looking for calling out as he looked for me.

He always worries so much. Even more, since I came back from the doctor.

"Matthew, I'm up here. What do you need?" I asked him.

Matthew jumped for a moment before he looked up at me, then he frowned. "Corina, don't lean out of the barn window like that it's dangerous," he told me. Then he crossed his arms. "What was that bright flash of light I saw go up into the sky?" He asked me.

"It is none of your business, Matthew," Taiga told him from behind me.

I let out a small sigh. "Stop that don't antagonize him," I whispered to Taiga.

"Of course, Mistress," he told.

I'm honestly surprised that worked.

"I'll be down in a moment, Matthew," I said.

Taiga followed me as I left the barn with Opal under one of my arms.

Matthew's face paled when he saw me. "Corina, are you alright? Where in the world did all of that blood come from?" He whispered.

In the next moment, he was instantly glaring at Taiga. "What in hell have you done to my little sister?!" He yelled.

Taiga just ignored Matthew choosing instead to examine his claws like he was checking them dirt or damage.

"Don't you hear me you bastard! What did you do to her!?" Matthew shouted again.

I grabbed Matthew's left hand before he could do something that he would end up regretting very, very soon.

"Matthew, I'm fine this is the blood of a goat," I told him slowly.

"Oh, a goat. Well then," he muttered as he visibly calmed down.

A moment later though he narrowed his eyes at me, however. "Corina, are those bruises on your throat?" He asked as he carefully ran on finger gently across my throat.

I had to force myself to not freeze up as my body broke out in a sudden cold sweat.

Why are the bruises showing? I thought I used enough makeup! Unless...the goat blood washed it off!

I knocked Matthew's hand away from my neck quickly and for a second we just looked at each other.

"I'm sorry if touching them made them hurt, Corina I didn't mean to," Matthew told me gently.

"Thank you. I'll be okay when they heal," I whispered.

"Alright then. I came to see if you wanted some tea?" Matthew asked me.

"No I'm okay right now," I told him.

Matthew nodded then walked away. I suddenly felt Taiga petting my head and I slowly looked up at him with wide eyes.

"He won't do it so I will," he told me.

My eyes grew hot as tears welled up in them and I cried as I let Taiga continue to stroke and run his fingers through my hair.

That night I had trouble sleeping as I cuddle Opal in my arms.

I looked up at the ceiling as another high pitched childlike giggle came from my closet where the dolls were looked inside.

Taiga left to go feed, I wonder if I should go to Matthew's room again.

I bit my lip as one or more of the dolls made a collective thumping sound on the closet walls.

If I sleep in his room too much he might become suspicious and so will the staff.

A moment later I heard the slowly creaky of my bedroom door as it opened. I instantly shut my eyes.

Please let it be Matthew checking on me, please let it be Matthew checking on me, please let it be Matthew checking on me.

I repeated this over and over again in my head like a mantra or a prayer. As the person walked toward me I could hear the creak of floorboards and shuffle of feet.

The bitter smell of tobacco entered my nose as the person stopped at my bedside.

Oh god no, please no!

A moment later I felt it, cold and slender fingers wrapping slowly around my throat and finally the moment my eyes sprang open to see my mother's face, she started to squeeze my neck.

I started to struggle and gasped hitting and clawing frantically at her hands that were constricted around my throat.

"Your fault! He loved you more! He gave his life to save something like you! You should've never been born!" She hissed her voice full of venom.

If I could have gagged I would have as the thick smell of alcohol from her breath reached my nose.

I saw Taiga suddenly standing over my mother's shoulder with a large knife like object raised.

"Stop! Don't hurt her! Please, please don't hurt my mommy," I pleaded with him.

Taiga froze up I saw him grind his teeth as he glared at my mother who suddenly just dropped me.

For a few moments, she just stood there looking around with glazed over eyes. Then she slowly and stiffly left my room.

I was left coughing and crying violently on my bed.