Where Demons Dare

by Kogo Shuko

50 Word Prompt Challenge featuring fifty short stand alone chapters about the Hollows, Rachel, Ivy, Trent, Jenks. I have more Hollows fanfics that are standard stories as opposed to such short standalones. The first story is about Ivy waiting for Rachel to wake from her coma. I ship TRENCH.

12. Imagination

Jenks stood on top of the stump, watching his youngest children fly around, plastic pixy swords in their hands. They were having a mock war, and the little plastic blades clashed against each other as the children squealed with delight and mock fear.

Jenks knew they were acting out a story he had regaled them with not that long ago, but he couldn't figure out where some of the colourful phrases and manoeuvers came from. He shook his head and smiled, wondering if he had ever had an imagination as vibrant as that of his children.

He watched Jrixibell tumble through the air, and Jenks lifted into the air to catch her, but she quickly regained her balance and flew back toward her siblings, her bright green sword thrust in front of her. Smiling, he settled back down on the roof of his home. His children were growing up. Play like this taught them lessons in how to fight and how to flee, and he knew they would take that knowledge with them when they finally left.

He became melancholy, wondering what he would do when all of his children left. He would be by himself. No children, no newlings, and definitely no Matalina. His wings twitched and black dust fell from them to spread around him. Sure, he had Rachel and Ivy, but they were a poor substitute for his family. He loved every single one of his children, and he was glad he was able to watch them grow. But he would certainly miss them when they went.

Jrixibell came flying at him, "Papa!" she called out, her voice high with fear. Behind her trailed three of her older brothers, all of them carrying splat balls. Jenks rose into the air, temporarily forgetting his pain, as he pulled out his pixy steel, ready to slash the splat balls before they reached his youngest daughter.

"Bring it!" he called, and he watched as his three boys gleefully launched their missiles at him.

Moving with lightning quick speed, he sliced into the first splat ball with his sword, and then moved to deflect the other two with his blade. The stray balls went flying toward the tree, harmless.

"I don't recall this part of the tale," he said as he rose into the air to meet his children. They surrounded him, everyone giggling.

Jenks couldn't even imagine a world without the children that he loved so much.