Chapter 11: In Search of Remorse

Marshall landed outside of the tree house and placed Fionna on the ground. His stomach churned as he was about to tell Fionna his deepest shame. He clouded himself with every possible scenario until his mind was saturated with the looming knowledge that this would surely be their last time together. They climbed up to the living room where Marshall plopped down on the couch while Fionna went in the kitchen to make some tea. When the tea was done she sat down next to Marshall and handed him a cup.

"Are you ready? You look really sick."

"Oh I am but you need to know this. I just hope you still love me when this is all said and done." He grabbed her hand and delivered a soft peck to her cheek.

"I am sure I will."

"Well let's start from the beginning. It was a little over 21 years ago that this all happened…"

Marshall had been summoned to his mother's private chambers by one of the lowly demons, "Marshall you mother requests your presence right away."

"What the does she want now. Is there ever a moment this woman does not try to make my life a living hell?" Marshall grudgingly slinked out of his bed and made his way to his mother's office.

She sat quietly in her chair behind the desk. Her presence alone would frighten most demons, but the tremendous power she possessed reassured that no one with mess with Hannah Abadeer. "Yes mother? What is it this time?" He rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh.

"Marshall now I know I told you that you should not speak to your mother in that tone." She said slowly tapping her fingers against the desk.

"Uh huh, so what is it that you need?"

"I want you to exterminate the human race. Luckily for you there are not many left. There is one village left on the outskirts of AAA. Eradicate them immediately." She nonchalantly cleaned under her nails as if this was an everyday request.

"But why? What's wrong with the humans?"

"Well for one your father was half humans and I loathe your father. That asshole had to die on me, leaving me to raise you alone. The mortal side of him… is why he is not here today." A blazing inferno quaked in her eyes and whenever Marshall saw that he knew not to mess with his mother. "So be a good little boy and kill off the human race."

"But…but… Fine, do I have to do it myself?"

"Of course not you are an Abedeer, you will lead the army to the village and eradicate them. You will leave tonight; they will not be expecting it."

Marshall turned around and started head to the door as Hannah spoke up, "Oh and make sure to have fun while you're doing it. Ta ta."

"As you wish mother." His tone was dry and detached as he went forth to kill off the last of the humans.

Marshall and his army set out for the village. As they closely approached they hid in the bushes and awaited Marshall's orders. "My mother wants every human dead, burn down the houses too to make sure we get rid of them all. Attack!"

The army charged in swords ready as they went house to house killing whoever and whatever they saw. Marshall did not join in the carnage he simply walked through the village making sure that the soldiers were doing their jobs. The screams were blood curdling, but Marshall is a vampire, he has heard the horrific screams of past victims before so it was easier to shrug off. He finally made it to the end of the village and 80% of the homes were already in flames. He looked up to the moon and thought, "Not much longer now, than I can forget about all of this." Out of the bushes a woman ran up to Marshall franticly holding a baby close to her chest, "You do not look like them, please take my baby keep her safe. Her name is Fionna. Please make sure she is safe." The unconditional love of that mother hit a cord with Marshall; it is what he wished for in his own mother. Marshall looked into the poor woman's eyes and smiled, "You too will be fine hurry and run I will…"

Before he was able to finish one of the soldiers came up from behind and pierced the sword through her chest. She fell to her knees blood trickling from her mouth and tears falling from her eyes. The look in her eyes would haunt Marshall as long as he would live.

"What the fuck did you do?"

"My job sir, do you want me to take care of the child as well?"

"No…" He screamed, "I mean no…just finish up, I will take care of this child and then we will head on home."

Marshall headed home with the baby in his arms. He managed to sneak back into his room with the child but this was only a quick fix until he came up with his next move. He paced back and forth tugging at his hair and fearing what his mom would do if he found her. The baby let out a sweet giggle which melted the vampire's heart. He picked her up and laid on the bed rocking her back in forth in his arms, "I wish that we could just run away. If we could reach the Bellum little one we would be safe." The baby reached her hand up to his pointy nose and grabbed on tight. He chuckled "Yeah, quite the big one, huh?" He cradled the baby while singing the lovely song of the Bellum until the morning.

Before his mother came in to ask about the mission he threw on a hoodie and snuck out into the forest. He sat down under a tree with the baby and looked her in her bright blue eyes. "I am sorry little one. I will make this right. Your mom's death will not be in vain." He held the baby close to him when he heard voices in the clearing. He took his phone and lifted it above him and Fionna. "Say cheese little one." The two smiled and as he took the picture. "Now I have something to remember you by." He cleared his throat, "Well sweetheart; this is where you and I part. These people will take good care of you little bunny." He kissed her on the head and laid her on a leaf. Just before the voices made it to their location he rushed off as quickly as he could. He knew that that family of cats would love Fionna like their own and hopefully fill in the hole in her heart she would feel from being the last remaining human being.

He looked at their picture as they flew home, "I am sure my mother already knows but it doesn't matter. She will be safe…and her safety is all that matters to me." He sighed.

He made it back to the Nightosphere and as expected his mother was in his room waiting for him. "Yes mother."

"Where is she?" Hannah asked with bitterness in her voice.

"Where is who?" Marshall asked casually.

"That human girl the one you saved."

"I do not know what you are talking about." He said floating over to his guitar. He started to fidget with the strings hoping that his mother would just drop it."

Hannah walked over to him knocking the guitar from his grasp. She leaned down and grabbed his face. "If you do not tell me where she is I will have you locked away." Her long sharp nails dug into Marshall's face piercing his pale skin and his blood slowly trickled down her fingertips.

Marshall flinched in pain, "I do not care what you do to me as long as she is safe. She deserves a chance."

Hannah let go of his face and folded her arms, "A chance… A CHANCE !? Fine Marshy it seems you have gone soft on me. You will never be the ruler of the Nightosphere this way. I will not touch your wretched child, however I think 12 years in the dungeon should harden your heart. Maybe after this you will kill her off as I commanded in the first place. Guards!"

Two guards came rushing in and stood at attention, "Yes Ms. Abadeer?"

"Take Marshall to the dungeon he will be having an extended stay."

Marshall grabbed at his mother's arm, "Please do not do this. You don't have to…"

The guards grabbed Marshall from his mother and took him away to the dungeon.

Marshal looked up to Fionna tears in his eyes, "So this is what happened to the last of the humans, this is what happened to your parents, and this is why I am the Sage of Remorse." He reached in his pocket and pulled out an amethyst colored cylinder stone and placed it on the table.