Scattered Souls

Chapter 50 - Monster In Disguise

Before Alexa left the day before, we discussed multiple possibilities regarding why the representation of Xypher in the diaries differed from how he is now. However, it all went back to confronting him to discover the whole truth. Alexa was also able to point out that I was just aware of one side of the story so far, and I needed to know the other before taking any sides. I was grateful for her objectivity.

We also decided to watch a movie afterwards, I kept zoning in and out,  however it served as a good time pass, and it was a welcome distraction from all the negative over thinking my mind had endured recently.

Needless to say, I passed out as soon as Alexa left that night. I was mentally and physically exhausted and in dire need of a peaceful night's sleep.

*********
In the midst of my deep sleep I could feel something tickling my face

"Robyn, it's me." he whisperered, it was Xypher. "How are you feeling, love?"

"I'm good." I responded, still in a somewhat sleepy state.

"I have good news." he sounded excited.

"Mmm." was all I managed to groan out in response.

"The priest's son arrived. He called me early this morning. The ritual is getting done this weekend."

The sharp excitement in his tone caused me to open my eyes, and I saw him smiling down at me, I started to smile back before thoughts of my recent discoveries invaded my mind, causing me to immediately jolt awake, sitting upright on my bed.

"Get away from me." I instructed him.

His smiling expression twisted into one of confusion.

"You're a monster." I declared.

So much for getting to know his side of the story. Well, I suppose accusing him also served as a way of confronting him, right? I mean it's not as if he was being completely honest from the get go. I had a good reason to be upset.

He just stood there in silence for a few minutes, without moving, without saying anything. It's almost as if he was just frozen on the spot, which annoyed me even further. I was expecting him to say something at least, instead of just standing there like a statue.

"I know what you did to Gran." I told him, I was feeling rather bold and fiesty this morning. Honestly, I also had enough of tip toeing around him to get information.

The color drained out of his face.

"I read the rest of her diaries." I pointed out. "You're a monster." I told him again.

"I was hoping you wouldn't." he said, looking down at the ground.

"I was bound to find out eventually."

"In fact, I'm even more furious that you kept something like this from me. Not just furious, I feel betrayed Xypher." I explained. "I trusted you and then I discover that you were tormenting my grandmother as a means of getting revenge. What did she even do to you?" I demanded to know.

"You must understand that I was hell bent on revenge, love. My life was taken away from me. I was trapped in the teapot and I was going to be passed from generation to generation like a mere object." he started to explain.

"No one would have even known I was in the teapot if I hadn't made a deal with the dark souls."

"You said the dark souls are dangerous." I pointed out.

"Yes, but they're powerful too." he said. "And I needed that kind of power to escape the kind of darkness I was in. So I negotiated - I would do favors that served them if they gave me the ability to be visible while I was trapped in the teapot - and in exchange I'd get to quench my thirst for revenge. I'd get to torment the bloodline that destroyed my life."

This time, I was the one standing there frozen in silence. Carefully processing every single word that came out of his mouth.

"You have to believe that all that is in the past, love. I'm no monster anymore. You know me." he held my hands in his, his eyes searching my own, they were silently pleading with me to believe what he was saying.

"I thought I did. But you could just be a monster in disguise." I pointed out, my mind was still reeling from all the things he just admitted to.

A part of me wanted him to deny it, a part of me wanted him to reassure me that he wasn't the person that Gran described. As much as I was ready to confront him,  in all honesty I wasn't ready to hear the truth. I still felt like my ears are ringing.

"Is that really what you think, Robyn?" he asked,  looking as if he was on the verge of tears.

"I don't know what to think anymore." I admitted.

"You were hell bent on revenge after you lost Julia. You made deals with the dark souls so you could be visible. Then you were completely sealed inside the teapot." I felt like I needed to say the steps out loud in order to be able to process it better.

"And now that you're able to appear again, you've suddenly had a change of heart." I said in disbelief, this was the part that didn't make sense to me.  It didn't connect with the other steps. It was random.

"It's true, love." he sounded genuine as he said those words.

"What made you have this sudden change of heart?" I wondered out loud, trying really hard to make sense of it all.

"You. It's you, Robyn."  he surprised me by declaring.

I almost rolled my eyes at how corny his declaration was. I'm pretty sure I wasn't that powerful now.

"When I met you I thought I found Julia again. The truth is - I found love again.  I found hope again." his hand gently cupped my cheek as he said those words, with a few tears coming down his cheeks.  He looked and sounded so genuine.

"Love?" I asked.

"Yes. I love you, Robyn." he said as he kissed my forehead.

He used those three magical words that made my heart do summersaults in my chest.

"I know you feel it too. The chemistry and the connection has been there from the very beginning. We were destined to meet, love." he sounded certain. 

"I admit my actions in the past were wrong. Seeking revenge wasn't the best route to chose, but I didn't know any better at the time. You have to believe that I no longer have any desire for revenge, love.  I want to be set free. That's why I want this ritual to be done as soon as possible." he explained.

"I won't go through with the ritual if you don't want me to." he shocked me by saying.

I looked up at him with a confused expression. Would he really let me choose?

"If you still don't believe me, you can choose to do the ritual that seals my soul in the teapot again. We do have an Irish priest at our disposal after all." I could tell he was serious about this suggestion.

"The choice lies in your hands, love."

"I believe you." I surprised the both of us by saying.

"I just need a little more time to process everything." I admitted.