The Midnight Flare

Family Reunion(?)

We had to run through the city. Cops were everywhere. Fortunately, I managed to get us past the border between the two countries and into the outskirts of Nytmerius. Once there, it was just a straight line to the castle. Sort of. We came across a forest full of snow covered pine trees. The trees were so tall, I couldn't see what direction anything was, whether it be the castle, a village, or even the sun.

"When are gonna get out of this damn forest?!" Siphelia yells after about an hour.

"Hell if I know," I respond. "This place is endless!"

She tries to cross her arms, but is unsuccessful because of the handcuffs. "Why do I still have these handcuffs!"

Damn, she's fucking annoying. I think as I melt the handcuffs. Surprisingly, she doesn't start running away.

"Well? Aren't ya gonna run?" I ask with a smirk.

"Where is there to run to?" She asks. Tears start to fall into the snow below her. "It's all your fucking fault! Why the fuck did you have to show up and destroy the life I had?!"

I can feel the rage build up inside me. So I let it all out at once. "You would have been discarded like your brother anyways! You think they're just accepting of people who can freeze and burn people at the same time?! Besides, it not my fault you fucking imbeciles kidnapped me after sending mutant bat creatures to attack the only person in this living hell that I actually lo-" I stop myself and take a deep breath. Probably shouldn't have said that. "Never mind. Forget I said anything. Long story short, none of this was ever my fault."

"Fine. You win. I just... I have nowhere else to go. So I'm stuck with you..." After about five minutes of sniffles and tears dropping, the tears stop falling and she stops sniffling. She looks up at me while we're walking. "You love that princess, don't you?"

My eyes go wide. Fuck, she still heard that. Damn it all. "Yeah, is there a problem with it?" I say. I make sure to look back at her with a grin.

She rolls her eyes. "Does that smile ever fade?" She asks.

"Yeah, sometimes," I say, still smiling.

"Why though?"

"Well, when I think of someone, I think of them smiling. If I didn't smile, I'd forget the emotional side of me and go on a murderous rampage. So, I smile all the time. Especially when there's some kind of mirror. Besides, I'd rather smile than look dead inside. Now, can we get out of this forest?" She nods. "Good, because I'm done with pine trees." I shoot a fireball forward. It creates a path through the trees. "Now come on, let's get through before these trees turn us into flapjacks."

- - - -

After dashing through the falling trees (which wasn't much surprisingly), we ended up back at the castle village. Before I go inside, I pull Siphelia behind a house.

"Ok, I'm sorry, but I'm gonna have to put the handcuffs back on you," I say to her in a somewhat hushed voice.

"Ok," She responds while shrugging. "Honestly, I don't care."

Wait, wasn't she just complaining? Never mind. I make handcuffs of ice and put them on her. We then walk into the village. As we walk in, I'm immediately recognized by Memphis and Chris. They run quickly over to me with puzzled looks.

"Who the hell is she and where the hell have you been?" Chris asks.

"Long story short, reverse kidnapping," I say. "Although, she might be pretty useful."