Halfling (editing in process)

Chapter Thirty-Three

"Maven! Thank the Goddess!" Javen exclaimed as Maven appeared in front of him.

The two embraced tightly, Payne staring into the darkness around them. Usually it would be too dark to see, but the vast plane was illuminated by periodic flashes of red lightning. Payne couldn't see Aria, so, letting the two have their little moment, she started out into the darkness to find her lover.

"Aria." Payne called softly. "Aria, come to me please... You do not need to be alone, not now."

The fate of the mother had befallen the child. Payne was livid. Not only had Lucien raped her, tortured her both physically and mentally, but he had impregnated her. Rage boiled inside her to the point where she wanted to scream, she wanted to cut, she wanted to hurt someone, but Aria needed her. She followed the flashes of lightning, the further she walked the more intense they got. Several times Payne was struck by them, the beautiful pain making her shutter. She shook the pleasure off, not wanting to frighten Aria when she finally found her.

Eventually the lightning lead her to where Aria sat. Strange little creatures sat around her, stroking her legs, arms, and back. Aria was staring off into the distance blankly, her hand resting on her stomach, the other held tightly around a dagger at her side. Payne wasn't sure where she had gotten the dagger, and didn't ask.

"Aria." Payne said quietly.

The little creatures, black as the oblivion around them, turned at once, hissing violently at her, revealing pointed teeth sharper than the dagger Aria held.

"Leave her be." Aria commanded, the creatures stopping immediately. "Leave."

The creatures stared at her for a moment before melding into the 'ground' and disappearing. Payne moved up and sat down beside her, reaching out and gently resting her hand over Aria's hand that held the dagger. Aria looked up at her, her eyes still holding shock, misery and deep sadness.

"I knew." Aria said quietly. "I didn't want to believe it, didn't want to think that the fates would be so cruel, but deep inside I knew." She shut her eyes tightly, her body shaking. "I don't want to cry. I've cried enough to last several lifetimes. But I'm scared. I...I don't know what to do. Maybe I should just end it all Payne. You can take Javen and Maven and hide them, you can go on with your life. I won't have to worry about Lucien if I'm dead."

"Don't talk like that." Payne hissed, reaching up and taking Aria's chin in her hand, forcing the girl to look at her. "Do you remember how you said you felt without me at your side for those weeks? Remember how helpless you felt? But you knew I was alive, you knew that Lucien would keep me alive to get to you. Now imagine if you knew I were dead. I would be devastated if you left me like that, if I were to never feel your sweet body against mine again, never hear that beautiful voice..." She pulled the dagger from Aria's hand and hurled it into the darkness. She pulled Aria close to her, stroking her hair. "You know... You do not have to keep the child."

Aria looked up at her, shock in her eyes. "You don't want me to keep it?"

"I didn't say that. I said you don't have to if you don't want to. I will respect your decision no matter what you decide. If you get rid of it, I will be there to help you recover, both physically and mentally. If you decide to keep it..." She shrugged lightly. "I will help you. Do not act so shocked that I suggested such a thing, you were about to put a dagger to yourself, that would have killed the child as well."

Aria's shoulders slumped in defeat. "If my mother hadn't kept me I wouldn't be here with you."

"Your mother was forced to keep you, held in chains so she couldn't take her life. She tried, but your father stopped her. You should know the story, Lucien and your father both told it to you over and over again as a child, or so I was told they did."

"They did." Aria mumbled softly. "But I am not being forced."

"No you aren't."

"It's Lucien's baby... He said it would be a boy. It will be part incubus. It... It will be evil."

"You are Azael's child Aria." Payne whispered, stroking her hair. "Are you evil like him? Even when his power was introduced into your system you did not go power mad as Lucien did. You are a beautiful contrast to him, light where he was dark, beautiful while he was tainted, and loving, while he was fueled on hatred and lust for power. I do not know why you turned out as you did, maybe it was because you weren't around him enough, or that you were more your mother's child than Azael's, but you cannot say it is evil simply because that is how it was conceived. You are a beautiful example of this. I'm not trying to sway you, but I don't want you to make your decisions on false thoughts."

Aria trembled lightly under her arm, Payne gently pulling her into her lap, rocking her gently. The lightning stopped pulsing around them, sending them all into darkness once more. A few moments later Aria's bracelet began to glow softly, casting a gentle glow around the two.

"You do not have to make a decision now, take your time and think about it Aria. I will support either decision you make. But please... No more thoughts of killing yourself. No more thoughts of running away. You are going to stay here, with me and we are going to get through this."

"Actually, if you would not mind, I have a better place in mind rather than staying in this realm of shadow. No offense, but I do not think any of us could survive in here for more than a few days, even if we were to eat Javen for substance." Maven commented lightly from behind them.

"I would only let you eat me Maven. I don't like Payne enough for her mouth to be on me." Javen teased.

Maven hit him, causing Javen to snicker. Aria looked up to the two, a small, sad smile lighting her face. Maven moved down and sat beside Aria and Payne, gently taking Aria's hand.

"I know this is hard for you Aria." Maven said quietly. "But we will get through this together, all of us. We are a family, like it or not. I know of a place where we can go where Lucien will not find us, a sanctuary if you will. Can I take us there?"

"Marcus... Marcus was in the house. T-They... They killed him didn't they?" Aria questioned, her voice trembling.

"Shh... Do not worry about the hound right now, worry about yourself and the rest of us, alright?"

Aria slowly nodded her head lightly.

"Take us out of this shadow realm Aria." Maven instructed.

In a moment they were back in the forest, the portal glowing above the trees. Smoke swirled around the portal in a black cloud, the smell making Aria's stomach turn.

"We were just about finished with the nursery." Javen said quietly. "And your mother's old things were there Maven."

Maven stared at the portal for a moment before shutting her eyes, a slow tear making its way down her cheek, whispering in the mixture of demonic and elven again before all of them were transported away from the forest.