"Now what?"

The five of them gathered around Nix's body.

"We bury him so deep, nobody will ever find him."

Swann glanced down at the monster that used to serve as his master. A million different thoughts went through his exhausted body before the young girl beside him began to softy cry. Looking over, Swann's arm went around her thin shaking body and drew her in close. Trying his best to sooth her, he gulped. Here he was nineteen years old and he had gone against everything he had ever learned. He prayed it was finally over, but deep down inside he knew better. Looking at the girl he had saved he made a promise to himself that he would always protect her from this day onward.

That was a promise he kept till the day he died, nearly thirteen years later.

It was nearly unset by the time they buried Nix's body deep into the desert. Parting ways, he said goodbye to his friends and then loaded back into his car. The girl sleeping in the passenger seat. Starting the engine he glanced at the desert land and felt uneasy. He hoped all the evil that Nix carried inside him was now buried deep in the ground. Turning the car around he began speeding down one of the back highways. His eyes focused on the road. Finally the girl stirred and for a second looked scared, as though she was still caught in that awful nightmare. Swann glanced over before the girl sat up straight and looked out at the vast desert before them.

"Is it…over?"

"Yes."

Swann softy said.

The girl then turned towards him.

"I'm Dorothea…"

She offered her hand. Swann was a little taken back by this but took one hand off the wheel and shook it. He was suspired but how much bigger his hand was then hers.

"Philip…Philip Swann."

Dorothea's eyes lowered.

"Thank you…"

Swann looked over before slowly nodding.

The two didn't say anything for awhile until finally Swann cleared his throat. He had somewhat of a plan waiting for him in Nevada, but he didn't know how things would work out. There was still risk all around them and he was now more scared then ever. Even though he had taken down Nix, he felt as though he was still around them…waiting to kill.

"Do you umm, do you have any family?"

Dorothea slowly shook her head.

"I'm an orphan, I've been sent to different foster homes in the last couple of years."

Swann nodded. He really had no idea what to do. He knew he couldn't take her with him.

"What about you, any family?"

Thinking for a second, he remembered his days on the streets before Nix found him. In fact Nix was the closest thing he ever came to having a father.

Swann shook his head.

"No…"

Swann tightened his grip on the steering wheel before Dorothea looked right at him.

"Philip?"

He looked over at her.

"Please don't make me leave, I like it here with you."

"Dorothea…you hardly know me."

"I know you were the only one who cared enough to save me."

"But the things you saw, I mean I used to follow Nix!"

"But not anymore, please…I feel safe with you."

Her tiny hand reached over and touched his arm. Swann glanced over before shaking his head.

"You belong with a family, people who can take care of you."

Dorothea shook her head.

"Please, even if it's only for a week…just let me stay, I'm scared Philip."

Swann glanced over again before sighing.

Dorothea watched him for awhile before faintly smiling.

"You have really pretty eyes."

"Huh?"

"Your eyes, I never saw a shade of blue like that before."

Swann saw his reflection in the rearview mirror for a moment and then shook it off.

"Thanks, I guess."

"No really, their beautiful."

Swann let out a nervous laugh before Dorothea looked straight ahead.

"Where are we heading?"

"Nevada, I have a friend there named Valentine, he knew about Nix."

"Is he going to help you out?"

"I hope so, we've been tossing around a few ideas…"

"To use your power?"

Swann looked over suspired.

"How did you…"

"I overheard Butterfield and Nix talking, is it true?"

Swann shrugged.

"I can do a couple of things…"

"Magic?"

Swann nodded.

"Nothing to be proud of, but something to maybe start a few life with."

"Not a lot of people know it's for real, do they?"

Swann nodded.

"I promise I won't get in the way…maybe I can help."

Swann looked over at Dorothea and faintly smiled again. He knew now he couldn't leave her someplace. Something about her beautiful young looking face made him feel welcome. Driving forward she felt her eyes on him the entire time.

After a few hours, right when night had finally settled, Swann pulled over on the side of the empty road.

"Before we look for a motel to hold up in, I need to use the bathroom."

"Yeah me to."

Both got out and Swann went behind the car while Dorothea went in front. Swann turned his back and unzipped his jeans before holding himself. Going, he sighed and looked around at the dim lit sky. Stars sparkled from above. Thinking at the unknown future, everything made him scared. He really had no idea what he was doing.

Finishing, he shook himself before he heard crunching of footsteps behind him. Before he could turn around Dorothea stood in front of him. Her eyes fixed and her eyebrow raised.

"So that's what guys have?"

Swann's eyes widened before he turned around and quickly zipped himself up.

"Jesus!"

He heard Dorothea giggle before he turned around, embarrassed and a little shocked.

"You can't do that!"

Dorothea kept laughing before she got back in the car. Swann felt his heart race before he tried to ignore the stupid erection he was getting. Getting in the driver's seat and driving ahead into the darkness, Dorothea controlled her giggles before looking at him.

"I'm sorry I scared you."

Rolling his eyes, Swann had no idea how he was ever going to do this.

Within an hour they found a motel. Swann tried to decide if they should get separate rooms or not. Finally he decided it would be safer if he got a room with two beds. Paying at the front desk, Dorothea came in with two sodas in her hand. He had asked earlier if she was hungry or wanted to stop. She said no, she just wanted something to drink and to have a nice shower.

"Have a good night you and your daughter."

The clerk yelled as they walked out, Dorothea began to laugh as Swann rolled his eyes again and took his coke.

Inside the room it was simple. Dorothea jumped on one of the beds before asking if she could shower. Swann said sure and opened up his duffle bag and pulled out a shirt of his.

"You can sleep in this, must be long enough."

Dorothea thanked him while Swann sat back feeling the weight of everything crush down on him. He knew it was over, but he still felt more uneasy then ever. He glanced at the clock and decided to call Valentine in the morning.

About fifteen minutes later, Dorothea walked out of the bathroom with only a towel around her. Swann glanced up from his bed before she took a seat on hers and used her fingers to brush back her slicked wet hair. Looking over at Swann she smiled. Swann quickly looked away.

A little before twelve, Dorothea was dressed in Swann's shirt that went down to her knees. She was now sitting on Swann's bed with him and watching the news. No word of anything from the desert. Dorothea had her head rested against Swann.

"Do you think their going to come after us?"

Dorothea asked.

Swann shook his head.

"I don't think they will…"

"So It's really all over?

"I hope…"

Just then Dorothea lifted her head, only a few inches away from Swann's face.

"Can you fly?"

Swann smiled.

"I can float in the air for a little while, that's it."

"Show me…"

"What?"

"Come on, I'll be your test audience in case you'll ever make it big."

Swann laughed.

"Yeah right…"

"Come on."

Swann slipped off from the bed and shook back. Dorothea sat up smiling as Swann tried to focus. Closing his eyes he felt his feet lift from the carpet and go mid-air, only a few feet up. Opening his eyes he smiled down at Dorothea who was completely speechless. Slowly lowering himself he smiled. Dorothea crawled over on the bed and stood up on her knees, nearly being eye level to him. Dorothea looked him over, her eyes wide as though she couldn't believe it.

"That was amazing!"

Swann laughed and without thinking he leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss didn't last long until Dorothea pulled away. Swann right away felt embarrassed.

"I'm sorry…"

He tried to look away before Dorothea placed her soft hands on each side of his face. Both locked eyes before she leaned in and kissed him again. Their mouths slowly opening and closing. Moaning through the kiss, Dorothea pulled on Swann's face and made him lower himself on top of her on the bed. Laying underneath, Dorothea held onto Swann as he kissed her deeper.

Then…

She looked at him and then looked down, half suspired.

"Did I make that happen?"

"Listen Dorothea, maybe we shouldn't…I mean your only…"

"Shhh…"

As Dorothea kissed him again, he knew she wasn't a child. She was something that would give him hope. He knew he loved her and would always protect her. He would do anything to give her the life she deserved. He didn't care any longer. Holding onto her as she unbuttoned his shirt, he felt her small undeveloped body and groaned in pleasure. Never before had he felt something like this.

They undressed together before Swann's sparking blue eyes locked with Dorothea.

"You sure?"

Dorothea looked nervous but slowly nodded.

There Swann positioned himself before taking in a deep breath, putting himself into her she gasped and snapped her eyes out in pain before he settled in. After a few seconds he began to slowly move in her thin frame. Gritting his teeth before she cried out. The sex didn't last long and when Swann rolled off her he thought he had done something wrong. Dorothea laid still for a few moments before he reached over…

"I'm sorry that I hurt you…"

She shook her head, wiping a few tears away.

"No, it's not that…it's just, this was my first time…"

"I'm sorry…"

He gathered her up in his arms, her naked skin pressed up against his as he tenderly kissed her forehead. Dorothea smiled.

"What I meant was…it was amazing, thank you."

Swann smiled before kissing her and holding her tightly in his arms. There she asked if they could try again. This time it didn't feel as awkward. After a few thrusts he started a steady pace as she wrapped her arms tightly around him. After a few moments he moaned loudly and climaxed. Holding her, he kissed her naked shoulder blades and couldn't believe he had fallen in love so fast.

Here he was nineteen, and she was twelve.

Laying naked together, curled up in the small motel bed. Dorothea kissed his bare chest before nuzzling in beside him and falling asleep. Swann knew this had taken a lot out of her. Holding onto her, he slowly shut his eyes and slept.

Swann woke the next morning to find himself alone in bed. Squinting from the sunlight that was drifting in through the curtains, he looked over and saw the other side of the bed empty and unmade. Looking around the small motel room he saw the bathroom door was open, but no Dorothea. Right away panic jumped inside his heart. What if Nix's people did follow them? What if she had been kidnapped? What if she decided to sneak out after he fell asleep because of what they had done? What if she had second thoughts and decided to leave him. All of these thoughts jumped at him all at once. His weak heart pounding, he quickly slid out of bed and grabbed his pair of jeans that were crumbled up into a ball on the floor. Pulling them on he rushed out and looked around at the dusty empty parking-lot. It was still early and the sun was just starting to peek over the hills. The sky a beautiful pinkish yellow. Taking a deep breath he then saw Dorothea, redressed and sitting on the hood of his car. Watching the last remains of the sun finally peak up and settle in the sky. Taking a deep breath he shuffled over to her in bare feet.

"Dorothea?"

She turns, her beautiful dirty blond hair blowing in her young clean face. She smiles at him as he races over, putting his hands on her arms, nearly shaking.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah fine, sorry I didn't want to wake you…pretty huh?"

Dorothea motioned towards the sky before Swann looked over and saw it. It truly was beautiful. Dorothea then looked over at him, giggling.

"Are you okay?"

Swann locked eyes with her before faintly smiling. Dorothea reached up brushing his hair away before smiling.

"You look real nice in the sun."

Swann laughed.

"Yeah, so do you."

Laying her head on his chest as his arms tightened around her, the two of them watched the sun slowly rise together.

"I love you Philip."

"And I love you Dorothea…"