Crossover

Chapter 15: Back in the Clutches

I woke to a small hand patting my face. “Heyo!” The owner of the small hand said, replacing her l’s with y’s.

I could have sworn I was dreaming. I opened my eyes, still sticky from sleep.

It was her. Alia. It was really her.

I sat up from the small bed I was on, and pulled her in tight. She had grown, I swear, but I really didn’t care. I rocked back and forth, hugging her and crying into her curls. She was all I could think of; I didn’t know where I was or what else was going on, but I had my baby back, and that was all that mattered.

“Kefira.”

I lifted my head up immediately. It was Marina, standing in the doorway to the small cell they’d put me in.

“What do you want?” I said venomously.

“That’s all you get today.” She said, gesturing to Alia. She wanted me to give her back.

“No. I refused, hugging her tighter. “You are being a cruel brev’t and I won’t. She’s mine.”

Marina stood there patiently waiting. I stared her down. It was a chilly exchange for a few moments, before she realized she couldn’t win that way. I wasn’t a weak willed child anymore.

“I’ll admit, you’ve done a fine job with her for the past few years,” she said, deciding to change tactics. “But you can’t do it on your own. She needs a real mother, one who can protect her from the evil in the world.”

“What are you talking about?” I said, lifting Alia off of me to look at her. I had been so absorbed in seeing her again, that I didn’t even check if she was alright. It was all fine though, she was just as perfect as the day she was born.

“I didn’t do anything to her.” Marina said. “I don’t want to hurt her. But I do want you to take me seriously.”

I placed Alia down on the floor, and stood up. “You can’t use her for your sick games!” I shouted. “Don’t you know when to leave well enough alone?”

She took a deep breath. “You think you can do your job and raise a child?” She asked me.

“Now listen to me,” I snarled. “I gave that up years ago, and I’m not going back. Never. I’m done killing.”

She just stood there in the doorway, hand on one hip. “I don’t think you understand what I’m saying,” She told me, her voice as patronizing as it was sharp. “If you can do your job for me, you can have her.”

 “Mama!” Alia said, scooting over to me and clinging to my leg. I picked her up, snuggling her close to my chest.

“It’s okay Alia, baby. It’s okay.” I shot a glare at Marina. “Your mum loves you.”

She only smiled. “Alia!” She called. “Time to go.”

My little girl buried her head in my hair, hiding. “No leave me.” She mumbled. “Stay, mama.” I fought back tears. This wasn’t fair.

“So what’s your choice?” Marina asked. “Would you kill to have your daughter back?”

I was immediately taken back to the carriage with Zedron. He’d asked me something similar, and I didn’t do it.

But now I had her in my arms. It was different making the choice when I had her right here. I had a chance to legitimately call Alia mine.

Marina was testing how far I’d go. She was making me go against all of my beliefs, all of my core values. I couldn’t believe we shared the same genes.

“For how long?” I asked. “How long would I have to work for you again?”

“Until the point where Alia would take over,” she said. “It’s been hard doing the killing myself while you were away. So messy, what with all the different worlds and stuff.”

“How is the crossover on you?” I asked. “Does it still feel like knives? Or has the power of it faded?”

 “Yes,” She said. “It took a while to acclimatize. But I can do it easily now.”

I was frustrated. She didn’t give me the reaction I wanted. I had to try something else.

“And does it still call to you?” I asked. “Are you still temped to stay there in the universe?”

She glared at me, and I could feel the hatred towards me, rolling off of her. This was what I wanted. I wanted the power. I wanted control.

“I’ll never forget what you did to me,” she said, her voice shaky.

I laughed. “The in-between isn’t something you forget easily.”

“You left me in there.”

“You tagged along,” I replied smoothly. “And besides, I’m pretty sure you have never felt that happy again in your life.”

She didn’t reply to that.

“I’ll work for you,” I said. I really had no other option. “But not Alia. I will not let you put her though what I have had to deal with.”

“You realize what you are saying?” She asked me, surprised.

“Yes.” I said. “I would do anything for my daughter.”

 "Good." She smiled briefly. "I need Alia back now."

"That wasn't our deal," I said, feeling a little cheated. I'd just signed a deal with the devil, and I was already regretting it. What kind of neto was she trying to pull?

"If I let you take her now, I have no guarantee that you will do what you say you will."

Marina was smart, I'll give her that. She had me backed into a corner, and I couldn't get out.

"Fine." I said. "I'll give her to you for now." It hurt me to even think about letting her go, let alone say I would out loud.

Marina stuck out her arms expectantly, waiting for me to just give Alia over. I laughed a little inside. She may be biologically related to me, she may have even been the one to make me in a little glass test tube, but there was no way she was ever a mother.

"Just give me five more minutes." I said, stroking Alia's hair.

She began to protest, but I cut her off with a cold glare. I wasn't someone she could push around anymore.

With a sigh, she placed a thin red folder on the floor of the cell, right in front of the door. “Whenever you are ready,” Marina said, exiting the room. “I’ll give you some time.”

The door closed, leaving me standing there holding Alia.

I wanted to just enjoy this, this moment of having her back. But the red folder lay there ominously, reminding me of my job.

“Oh Alia,” I murmured, twisting side to side in a small rocking motion. “You’re breaking me.”

She reahed up with her tiny hand patted my face. “I yove you mama,” she said.

I kissed the top of her head, and walked over to pick up the folder.

“I love you too, Alia,” I said as I opened it.