The Promised Neverland AU
By: FunahoMisaki
(A/N: I own nothing and read last chapter)
"Regular Check-in. Regula check-in. This is 73584 from plant 3. Everything is as usual. However, I do have questions regarding one of the cattle." Isabella said reporting into the radio.
"That's unusual for you Isabella." An older womans voice came on and Isabella's eyes widened just a bit.
"Grandma?" Isabella questioned and there was an affirmative hum from the other end of the radio.
"Which of the products do you have questions about?" Grandma asked making Isabella pause for half a second.
"Number 63194. Emma, the Mom candidate I have mentioned before." Isabella said and she heard a small intake of air from Grandma at that and her purple eyes narrowed. Grandma always did seem rather invested in Emma, even back when the girl had been a year-old baby.
"What about her?" Grandma asked and her voice was a bit cold now, only serving to make Isabella even more curious and wary.
"As previous noted she has unparalleled stamina, speed, and strength compared to the other cattle. What has drawn my attention about this is how it should be impossible for an eleven-year-old girl to be able to do what she had done earlier today." Isabella said and she knew that if she hadn't had Grandma's attention before, she had it now.
"What happened?" Grandma asked and Isabella frowned briefly.
"As I've mentioned before, she often pushes herself greatly through physical exercise and frequently uses the other cattle children as weights during such exercises. She had once more doubled her standard routine to 20 laps around the field, 10,000 chin ups on a tree limb, and 10,000 one handed push-ups. All of which she completes in less than an hour." Isabella began and then once more paused for half a second.
"This morning she has decided to ask myself and Sister Krone to be her 'weights' as it were. I humored her request thinking she'd be unable to lift Krone or myself and therefore see how she wasn't as strong as she's fooled herself into thinking. She not just picked up the both of us with ease…but she did her entire workout with us weighing her down and was just barely starting to sweat by the end." Isabella said and she heard an impressed noise from Grandma.
"There is no way a normal human, especially not an eleven- year-old, would be able to do such a thing." Isabella said plainly and Grandma hummed slightly as if in agreement.
"Surely you've heard rumors of an experimental child?" Grandma asked making Isabella blinked a bit.
"I've heard whispers yes but did not focus on them too much." Isabella admitted and Grandma hummed in understanding. Isabella had likely been too focused on her studies and other training to become a Mom instead of whispers floating around.
"Twelve years ago, there was an idea to try an experiment. To create a child who by all rights should not exist nor should have lived this long." Grandma began and Isabella was already starting to write everything down on a notepad she kept near the radio just for things like this, although she mainly used it to write down any information she gained on her daughter.
"Using one of the up and coming promising Mom candidates…the made a hybrid. A child who was half human and half demon." Isabella's pen fell from her hand at that as her eyes widened.
"I see…that explains her red eye and the fact that she is more physically fit than should be possible for a normal human of her size and stature." Isabella said after taking a few seconds to regain her composure but her mind was already ticking over this. A promising Mom candidate who had an experimental child…a child that turned out to be Emma.
Emma who Isabella suspected was her daughter.
"Yes. She was to be raised as a normal cattle child. That is why her food and all were the same as the other cattle despite the fact that she drank human blood instead of milk as a baby. It is quite the interesting experiment to be sure. A baby that is half prey and half predator. Half of the lowest class and half of the highest. Which side would win out in the end? Would she need to feed from human flesh and blood? So far it seems she doesn't but would that change if she were allowed to grow into an adult? Many are interested in this experiment. It has even caught The One's attention." Grandma said and Isabella couldn't contain her slight gasp at that. The One. The One who was pretty much the God King of Demons.
The One who stood at the top of the food chain, higher than even the noble and royal demons.
The One who had an interest in Emma. In the girl who might very well be, and likely was, Isabella's daughter.
Her daughter who was half demon.
"I see. So, whether she was a Mom candidate or not she'd be allowed to grow up to maturity at the least." Isabella said and her voice betrayed none of her inner feelings.
"Yes. In fact, once she turns twelve the demon who fathered her will be taking custody of her if she shows any promise as a demon. You should be happy for her Isabella, Mom candidate or not the girl shall want for nothing. Her father is one of the strongest after all and already has premium grade meat reserved for her." Grandma said and Isabella was keenly aware of what that meant. That meant that her daughter was likely going to eat either Norman or Ray, likely Norman given that her and Ray's birthdays were so far apart.
Norman's birthday was pretty far from Emma's as well. So unless they were planning to keep the boys alive for several extra months just for her, something Isabella had never heard of being done before unless it was dire circumstances when dealing with Tafari, then there was no way that Emma would be eating the boys as her first meal of human meat.
"I see. Are there any special instructions concerning her that I should know of now that I'm aware of her…circumstances?" Isabella asked and Grandma made another hum noise.
"Keep a close eye on her potential and let me know immediately if she begins to bleed or feeds on one of the other Cattle. Other than that, treat her no differently than you do the others." Grandma said and Isabella gave an affirmative before Grandma disconnected the line and Isabella turned off the radio out of habit.
She sat there for a long minute however just staring silently at the off radio as her brain mused over everything she had learned.
Emma was most likely Isabella's daughter, that baby whom she had a brief glimpse of that had a wide beaming smile. The baby that Isabella had been striving so hard to be able to see and get to know soon. The one that Isabella had been dreaming of and her mental image for her daughter actually wasn't that far off from Emma either now that she thought about it.
Emma…is Isabella's daughter, she couldn't deny that it was the only answer that fit. Emma is her daughter.
Emma…who was half demon which explained the red eye and her enhanced reflexes and physical capabilities.
Emma who had caught the interest of The One for whatever reason, likely because of her hybrid status.
Emma…her daughter. Her beautiful baby girl who was half demon but still loved her family fiercely and who may end up eating one of her family one day if her demon side took over.
Emma who didn't even know she was half demon.
Isabella mechanically made her way through her rounds as she considered all she had learned and her thoughts swirled around in her mind.
Emma, her daughter. Her adorable, dangerous, lovable hybrid daughter. A child who was both human and not at the same time. Both cattle and buyer. A child who was half of both species.
Her daughter who would get to grow up and live her life. Her daughter who might still become a Mom candidate after spending time with whatever demon lord was her father. Emma who might decide she'd rather be human and be like Isabella, be a Mom.
Emma her adorable, sweet, lovable, energetic, and so very caring daughter.
As soon as Isabella got back to her room, she noticed that it was empty for the first time in a while since Emma was sleeping in her own bed tonight. Something that was very rare to happen.
Isabella slowly closed the door of her room firmly and got ready for bed but when she laid down on her comfortable mattress… all she could think about was Emma. Her daughter.
Her daughter who had been right in front of her this whole time. Her daughter who knew the song that Isabella had hummed to both of her unborn babies.
Her daughter…who…already knew of Ray…who probably already knew of Isabella herself given what Connie said.
Why? If Emma did know of her then why did she never question Isabella about it? Did she figure that Isabella hadn't known? Did she just guess that Isabella had a good reason for putting her only daughter in an orphanage?
Did….did she just not care? No…she was far too loving and caring to everyone to just not care about Isabella. Maybe she just had vague memories and didn't really know who her mother was? Just knew the lullaby?
"Mama…" Emma was at her door and Isabella both wanted to let her in and shoo her away at the same time.
"Come on sweetheart. It's past your bedtime and we both need sleep." Isabella didn't bother to get up as Emma let herself in and then quickly claimed her usual place in Isabella's bed.
"I tried sleeping in my bed. Nightmare." Emma said as she let out a jaw cracking yawn and Isabella hated that her daughter had such frequent nightmares. Had them for as long as Isabella could remember.
She had always helped sooth the girl after a nightmare before she knew the truth…
"It's alright baby girl. Mama's here. Go to sleep, Mama will protect you from the nightmares." Isabella hadn't wasted any time pulling Emma close so that the girls ear was over Isabella's collarbone so that the orange haired child, Isabella's daughter, could hear her heartbeat.
She had always helped comfort the girl after a nightmare before she knew Emma was her daughter. Now? She was even more determined to help her baby girl.
"Thanks Mama…night…I love you." Emma said and Isabella felt tears in her eyes but a bright smile she hadn't smiled in so long appear on her face.
"Mama loves you too Emma, my sweet little princess." Isabella murmured as she kissed the top of Emma's head, holding her daughter a little tighter.
She won't be able to save Ray, he'd die on his twelfth birthday no matter what she tried or tried not to do….but…Emma wouldn't be killed. Even if she didn't become a Mom she wouldn't be killed.
Her daughter was going to survive and Isabella knew that for at least a while she'd have her daughter right here in reach when the girls training was done.
She'd get to keep her daughter by her side. That…that was a lot more than any other Mom could say.
"I love you so much my sweet baby." Isabella murmured quietly as she held Emma a little tighter.
Her baby. Her baby girl. Her daughter who would get the chance to survive and grow and live.