Chapter eleven: Magic of the night.
"I can assure you this is no dream." Near informs Mello.
Mello lowers his hand to hang limply at his side and he turns to Near. "Then why did you come back here and even land with me here when you knew I was here?"
"Because I am hoping that you can look past the lines of our old rivalry. I never saw you as my rival." Near begins.
"Yeah because your brother is your real rival." Mello huffs turning away slightly.
"He is still my brother." Near starts then quickly shakes his head to get back on track. "Getting back on track." He states. "What I need is your help."
Mello turns to Near surprised and raises an eyebrow. "My help? You do realize that I was the one that exposed you, no matter if it was planned by you or not, and got you almost captured by your brother." He says. "And yet you stand here asking me for my help?" He pauses a moment. "What kind of help are you even talking about? Cause if it's getting back into Whammy's then you can forget about it."
Linda opens her window feeling her room is too hot and she gasps quietly as she notices Mello and Near talking. She crouches and watches as she strains to try to listen to what they are talking about.
"I don't need that." Near responds. "I cannot stay in one place too long or else I'll be caught by my brother and all those I have saved will be in jeopardy of being hurt once again." He says. "I made a small mistake of thinking the safety at Whammy's was enough and stayed too long. But that doesn't matter now." He looks into Mello's eyes as he continues. "I need your help in showing that the children of the night are happier in their new lives and that the world can live peacefully with them. If that can't happen then they'll have to stay in hiding forever. What I want is to help them be free while still being safe from not returning to the hell world they used to live in. Help me…. No…. help us. So that the children of the night may live happily, peacefully and free."
"Us?" Mello questions. "Are you talking about you and those you've kidnapped?"
"Me and the children of the night." Near corrects him.
"And you want me to help…. Why?" Mello questions further.
"Because you are the smartest at Whammy's. You have the resources, the ability and such on. I could use your help in bringing forever lasting peace between those of the night and those of the day." Near says.
"I see no reason to help a kidnapper like you." Mello responds.
Near turns so his back is to Mello, his side to Whammy's and his wings slightly spread. He is looking at Mello over his shoulder that is not facing Whammy's. "Then let me show you." He offers.
Mello looks thoughtful for a moment. "Show me?"
Near nods. "Mhm."
Mello thinks about it for a few moments then smirks. "Fine. Let's see what you've got." He says.
Near smiles. "Thank you." He turns to face forward, spreads his wings and takes to the sky.
Mello is unsure what to do then suddenly thanks to Near using his magic, the blonde is lifted into the sky following Near. He is a little shocked at first and flails slightly only to find he is stable as he flies in the air with Near. He is flying like how the children of the night were lifted away but he is not being taken and he is gaping at the beauty he has never seen as they fly in the sky.
Near can't help but smile at Mello's amazed face. He leads them over the clouds and a little hesitantly the blonde reaches down.
Mello's hand brushes along the softness of the top of the cloud and he can't help but grin as adrenalin rushes through veins like a wild fire in a dry forest. He tries grabbing a fist full of cloud but it seems to dissipate almost like water that is mixed with fog if you grab a handful of that.
As they disappear over the cloud top Linda begins to panic a little wondering if she should tell someone.
She rushes out of her room down the hall and frantically knocks on Rodger's office door. She gets no answer as he is asleep in his room. She tries to calm herself down and she goes back to her room. She paces but tries to come to peace with herself. "It has to be a dream." She says. "There's no way Mello would ever consider making a deal with Near." She climbs into bed. "Now if only I can wake up." She curls up like she's cold but she isn't cold…. She is trying to get herself back to sleep but her mind keeps running like a fast moving clock that never needs new batteries.
Mello glances up and gasps at the beauty of the moon. He'll never admit this to himself….. ok OUTLOUD…. But the majestic magic of the night has caught a hold of him in its secret beauty. He closes his mouth that had flopped open and swallows. He's never seen such a majestic view in his life!
Near starts humming making Mello remember that Near is still there and what they are actually doing.
Mello can see why the children of the night seem to love this flight as he forgot all of his problems and was brought some kind of happiness within the beauty of the night. He got so lost in the wonderful feelings that filled him that he felt like everything that has ever been a bad part of his life. He blinks as he realizes that Near is humming the tune that he uses to take children away. "Is he actually going to show me the place he takes the children to?" He asks under his breath as he curiously watches.
Near closes his eyes for a moment then opens his eyes almost half way. He looks to Mello with a smile and nods to the moon.
Mello turns to the moon and he notices that something seems to be ahead of them in front of the moon.
But it's like it's invisible that you can only tell that something is there if you're close enough.
They fly through it and Mello glances back not seeing the moon or any familiar things they flew by.
He can't see nothing that tells him they are still in Winchester…. It's almost like they have went through a portal to a land hidden by magic….. His eyes widen as he looks down realizing that is in fact the secret home of the children of the night.
There is many down there, all obviously the children of the night, and they all are excited about Near coming.
Near lands himself and the blonde on the ground and the excited children flock to him excitedly greeting him.
Mello can see just how much the children of the night truly look up to Near. He sees so many different scars of horrible pasts and he can see the happiness on the faces of those that live here. He shakes his head. "It's still kidnapping." He says under his breath.
"Who is this?" A little girl with auburn hair that reaches to her shoulders says as she looks up at Mello. She is wearing a simple black t-shirt and a pair of dark brown shorts almost reaching her knees with black sandals that are not like the flip-flops at all but actual sandals. Her amber eyes are obviously not properly aligned. She also has a terrible scar right by her one eye that seems to be the one out of line. She is also holding hands with a smaller boy who hasn't glanced up at Mello.
The boy has short slightly ruffled coffee brown hair, his eyes are a dark purple color and he is wearing a dark pink pull over hoodie with rolled up jeans that are rolled up to his knees. His shoes are dark chocolate brown boots reaching to just a little past his ankles. His small hand is holding the girls.
"This is Mello. He may be able to help us get you guys free without having to worry about being put back into anything like before. That way you guys can have some more freedom if it all goes as planned." Near explains.
"Oh. Hello there sir Mello." The girl says with a smile.
"Diamond! Cosmo!" A boy a little older looking than the girl shouts. "Come play."
The boy with the girl looks around as if trying to locate the sound then he listens and looks in the direction of the other boy.
Mello's heart almost sinks as he realizes the boy must blind!
"Coming!" The girl calls over her shoulder then looks back to Mello. "It was nice meeting you. Hope we get to talk some more. Maybe you could even join a game of tag or something sometime!" She turns. "Come on Cosmo!" She says then leads Cosmo to some of the other kids.
Mello watches and sees that they begin playing with the two as if they don't have their conditions… even accommodating to make it easier for the two with the conditions…. The kids are all playing together as if they are all the same and as far as they are concerned in their minds they really are all the same yet different in their own ways.
This place is like a paradise especially to those who had lives of hell before coming here.
"Wonderful isn't it?" Near says almost making Mello jump as he forgot for a moment that Near is there.
Mello turns to Near.
Near is watching the children play in a way that it's like a caring loving parent would.
Mello blinks shocked at this as he didn't think Near actually held emotions let alone anything like this.
Near turns to Mello with a smile.
Mello can't help but also smile.
One of the children come over to Mello and Near.
Mello blinks recognizing the kid as the girl that was curled up in newspaper when the night came Near would lift the children away.
She is a little tan skin, slightly narrow rose colored eyes and long wavy black hair going to about mid back. She is wearing dark green cargo pants with a red long sleeved shirt and white sneakers. "Excuse me Mello sir but do you want to join in?" She asks in a quiet voice.
Mello blinks then glances up only to realize how late it must be. "Sorry but I'll have to leave soon." He says.
"Ok. Please do agree to help us. Mother only wants the best for us no matter how risky it is for him." She says moving over to Near hugging his legs. "He will do whatever he has to so we are protected and happy."
Near glances away sheepishly. "Karen you know I don't like to brag." He says.
"Sorry I was just saying." Karen responds looking up to Near.
Near gives a gently smile and paces a hand on her head slightly moving it back and forth. "It's alright." He says.
Karen smiles hugs Near a little tighter then runs off to join the others.
"I know it'll be sunrise soon so I'll take you back soon." Near says glancing to the sky.
Mello's eyes flicker to Near then he looks away. "Yeah. I'm going to need some time to think." He says.
"I can give you till tomorrow night in which I can return for your answer." Near offers.
"Yeah thanks." Mello says.
"Alright kids!" Brianna calls. "The sun will be up soon which means time for bed."
The kids go towards the cave but a group goes to Near with two of the eldest grabbing Near's hands trying to bring him with them.
"Come on mother!" Gevanni says.
"Alright. I'll stay until you're asleep but I need to get Mello back." Near says. He glances to Mello. "Care to join or would you like to stay out here?" He asks.
"Might as well find out as much as possible." Mello says and follows the others to the cave.
The children of the night settle and Mello sits by the entrance of the cave watching.
Near settles down and the children of the night try to be as close to Near as they can without overcrowding themselves.
As the children of the night settle Near spreads his wings over those nearest to him almost like a blanket.
The children start to yawn tiredly as the dawn approaches.
Mello continues to watch as Near patiently waits for the children of the night to be asleep before carefully moving.
Near moves really silently and flies over the children of the night to not risk waking them. He lands just outside and Mello comes out to join him. "Time to get you to return." He says looking to Mello. "I hope you will help us."
"I need time to think." Mello reminds Near.
"Yes. I understand." Near says with a small nod. He takes to the sky again and uses magic to once again lift Mello into the air as they leave the children of the night's home returning back to the world Mello knows.
Mello's head is buzzing with so many thoughts and his memories of what happened as the sun begins to rise.
Near finds a spot behind some trees behind Whammy's and they land safely. He turns to Mello. "I will come tomorrow night for your answer." He says then spreads his wings about to take to the sky once again.
"Wait." Mello says and Near turns to him. "Where are we meeting?" He asks.
"I will find you." Near responds. "Don't worry about that." He turns away and takes to the sky.
Mello watches him go then turns to look to the orphanage. He sighs softy and heads back towards the building. He sneaks in and heads towards his room only to have Linda come over to him by the front lobby.
Linda has a glass of water and she looks suspiciously at the blonde. "Did you go with Near to somewhere? What were you two doing?" She asks.
Mello mentally swears in his head that Linda spotted them. "What are you talking about Linda?" He says. "Did you have a weird dream?"
"Then why were you outside?" Linda questions raising an eyebrow.
"Early morning walk." Mello says. "I went out not too long ago to go for a walk since I woke up early without being able to go back to sleep."
"Oh I see. So it was in my head that you went with Near." Linda says seeming to relax.
"Yeah must have." Mello snorts getting into the lie. "Cause why would I go with a kidnapper such as him?"
"Good point." Linda nods. "Well I'm going to try to get some more rest." She begins walking towards her room. "Night Mello."
"Yeah night. Whatever." Mello responds. He goes to his room and sits on his bed. "Tomorrow night, huh?" He glances out the window. "What should I do? I can't explain it but I feel so lost now." He looks down to his hands. He is resting his elbows on his knees with his hands joined together a little past his knees. "That place… they're all so happy… all one big family taking care of each other no matter what… but it's kidnapping…. It's against the law…." He mumbles to himself and his eyes flicker back and forth like looking at two papers at once as he goes over everything. He ends up putting his face into his hands with another sigh. "I really don't know what I am going to do now."
