A/N: NEW CHAPTER OMG WHUT? YES! I am not dead! Only a few more chappies to go my friends! And believe me, you won't have to wait nearly as long. As usual, all other info on deviantart.
This fiction is STILL (if you can believe it lol) based off of "Wicked Promise" by Nijuuni on Deviantart. Check it out =P
Disclaimer: I own nothing I tell you! NOTHING!
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9.
"Roxas, I think you should go to school tomorrow."
"Huh?" Roxas looked up from his pile of books on his bed. While he had been home all week taking care of his mother, they had assigned a kid to bring him his homework. Roxas swore it was like the guy was playing ding-dong-ditch every day.
Roxas had been able to get his mother to nap and was eagerly using the time to catch up on some of his missed schoolwork. It was nearing the end of the week and Roxas seemed to be finally up to speed.
"I think it's a good idea if you went to school tomorrow." Axel repeated while lazily flipping through a textbook. Honestly, what were they teaching kids today?
"Axel, the week's not over yet, and I have to be here taking care of mom." Axel sighed.
"I know, but she has been fine all week. She hasn't hurt herself and she is getting better. It would be a good idea to let her have a day alone. She needs to gain back her independence if she's ever going to work through this." Roxas looked skeptical.
"I don't know…" But the more Roxas thought about it, the more he believed that Axel was right. If he stayed by his mother morning, noon, and night then she might become dependant on him. Besides, tomorrow would be Friday and then he could spend the entire weekend with his mom, "well…I guess that makes sense…"
"Would I ever steer you wrong?" Axel smiled softly and Roxas returned the gesture.
"No, I guess not. Thanks Axel." Axel beamed.
Roxas returned to his work for a little while until his mother woke up from her nap; then he went downstairs. Axel remained on Roxas' bed, practically kicking his legs in glee. Roxas wouldn't be home tomorrow, and all he needed was one day to put his plan into action. One glorious day and Roxas would be his.
That night Roxas informed Axel that his mother had consented to staying home alone for the day. Axel merely smiled a secret smile and wished Roxas the best of luck at school the next day.
The next morning Roxas was anxious while getting ready for school.
"Are you sure that she's going to be okay without me? Maybe this is a mistake."
"Roxas," Axel said, gazing into those perfect cerulean orbs, "everything is going to be fine. Trust me."
Eyes trained on Axel's own orbs, Roxas visibly relaxed and sighed. Why that man had such a calming effect on him, he'd never know.
"You're right, I'm being ridiculous. What's the worst that could happen?" With that statement and a small wave to accompany it, Roxas grabbed his backpack and headed off to school, Axel watching him leave in the entranceway; the last time he would ever leave that through door.
Soon, my love.
Realizing there was no time like the present, Axel set to work. He found Roxas' mother lying on the living room couch reading a book. Axel smirked, looking down his nose at the woman.
One for the money, two for the show, three to get ready, and four to…
"Help!" Roxas' mother jumped at the sound, sitting up and looking around herself frantically. Was it her imagination, or had she just heard a cry for help?
"Please, won't anyone help me?" There it was again! Definitely a man's voice, and he sounded desperate. The woman's heart was pounding in her ears as she searched for the source of the sound.
"Help me, I'm stuck in this mirror!" She whipped her head around to stare at the large looking glass next to the television. Slowly she rose from her seat and crept ever so softly over to the wall.
"H-hello?" She tried softly.
"Is someone there? Oh thank heavens!" The reply was immediate and full of gratitude, "please, you have to help me! I'm trapped in this mirror and I can't get out!"
"Where…where are you?" Roxas' mother was looking into the mirror, but could see nothing other than her own reflection. In a moment, Axel appeared in front of her, seemingly in a panic. Roxas' mother was frozen to the spot in pure fear, but her kind and loving nature wouldn't let her ignore the fact that someone was in dire need of her assistance. Axel stared at her with pleading eyes.
"Please miss, I've been trapped in this mirror for so long, and I desperately need to get out! I can't do it alone, but maybe you could help me!" The redheaded man cheered up at the prospect of salvation, and Roxas' mother pushed her fear to the side. Here was a poor soul in need, and she couldn't find it in her heart to decline his request.
"O-of course I'll help you!" She said reassuringly, if not a little shaky, "what do you need me to do?"
Axel's eyes lit up and he smiled, his eyes brimming with tears, "Oh thank you kind woman! I don't know how I will ever repay you!" Axel gave her a list of ingredients that she could easily get from the local market, and told her that when she came back, there were a few ingredients in the attic that she needed.
When Axel finished, Roxas' mother grabbed her purse and car keys and assured Axel that she would be back as soon as possible.
"Oh gracious woman, you are too generous to this unfortunate stranger. There must be a special place in heaven reserved for people as thoughtful as you." She blushed slightly at the statement and disappeared through the front door. Axel smirked widely.
Like taking candy from a baby.
About an hour later Roxas' mother returned, and after putting everything in the kitchen, Axel instructed her as to what to get from the attic. As much as he hated having her go through his personal belongings, he needed those potions. After all, one can't cast a spell without magical ingredients.
By the time everything had been properly prepared as per Axel's instruction, it was around four o'clock. Roxas would be home soon. His mother was finally sitting down after being on her feet all day.
"You look tired," Axel commented, "And you've been working so very hard to help me. You should lie down. The mixture will be okay for now." The mixture being the boiling pot on the stove with all of the ingredients mixed in.
"Well…just for a minute." Roxas' mother yawned and lay down on the couch, closing her eyes and almost instantly falling asleep. This was the part that Axel needed Roxas' mother for most of all. If Axel performed the next part of the spell himself, Roxas would never consent to doing the final step; which had to be done out of his own free will. Lucky for Axel, free will is a very vague concept.
Making sure the woman was really asleep, Axel too closed his eyes, mumbling a few words. Mere seconds later the woman's eyes fluttered open, glazed over and listless.
Can you hear me?
She nodded slowly.
Good. Now, go into the kitchen and grab a large knife. Dip the blade into the pot on the stove and await further instruction.
She rose from her seat and obeyed, zombie-like in her movements. After removing the blade from the pot, she sat down at the table and waited, staring off into space. As long as Axel kept his eyes firmly closed, he could see through the eyes of the woman.
The clock ticked for what seemed an eternity to Axel, until he could hear the faint sound of footsteps leading up to the house. Axel's stomach filled with butterflies from anticipation.
Soon we'll be together. Forever.
"Mom, I'm home!" Roxas yelled through the house as he was closing the front door behind him.
Call him in here.
"Honey? Could you come into the kitchen for a minute?" Roxas dropped his bag at the front door, and started to head for the kitchen. Still, he was slightly hesitant. There was something off, his mother didn't sound right. Roxas entered the kitchen.
"Yes mom?" Roxas stared at his mom questioningly. Her eyes; they looked… lifeless. "Um…are you feeling okay?" Roxas didn't see the knife that was hidden behind his mother's back.
"I'm feeling great honey! Better then I have in a long time. Could you just come here for a moment?" She outstretched her arm and smiled affectionately. Roxas looked at her uneasily, brows furrowing. Something was definitely wrong, but he couldn't figure out what. Cautiously, he stepped towards her.
As soon as he was in reach, Roxas' mother grabbed his arm, rather roughly, and revealed to him the knife hidden behind her back. Roxas' eyes filled with fear, and he started shaking.
"Mom….mom, what are you doing?" His voice was uneven, and his eyes never left the shining blade of the knife. He started trying to jerk his arm free from her grasp. His mother's voice was calm and collected.
"Now honey, the more you squirm, the more it's going to hurt. So why don't you just lie down like a good boy and get it over with."
"WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" Roxas screamed, finally able to tear his arm away. He turned to run, but he was caught by the back of the shirt collar, nearly choking him. He quickly slipped out of his shirt and kept running. .
Get him on the floor!
Obeying the hypnotic voice in her head, his mother lunged after Roxas and tackled him to the floor before he could even get out of the living room.
"GET OFF OF ME!" Roxas bellowed. He tried to push his mother off, but she was holding him down with a superhuman strength. Now that Roxas was lying pinned on his stomach in a vulnerable position, Axel took control of the arm holding the knife and brought it to the boy's pale skin.
Roxas' eyes bulged and he cried out in extreme pain, the blade digging into his back. At first he flailed violently, but he soon realized that it was only more painful and soon settled down, tears streaming down his face and staining the hard wood floor. Roxas was too preoccupied by the pain to realize that a symbol was being carved into his back; three points at the top and two round lines at the bottom.
Roxas panted heavily and stared at the floor, eyes wide. Why is this happening? He thought, What did I do wrong? Why is she hurting me? Doesn't she love me? Roxas' mind flooded with thoughts that seemed to keep his mind off of the extreme physical agony he was feeling. Sadly, it only seemed to contribute to the emotional agony.
When Axel was satisfied with his handiwork, he willed the woman to ease herself off of Roxas. As soon as the weight on his legs and back was alleviated, Roxas shoved his mother to the floor and bolted for the front door.
Stop him!
Roxas' mother sprang to her feet, and before Roxas could even hope to reach the door his mother was blocking it with her body, knife still held in her hand menacingly. She glared at him with a feral grin. Absolutely horrified and tears streaming down his face, Roxas ran up the stairs to the only other place he could think of.
His bedroom.
