Chapter 9

I crawled away, tears streaked across my face. I stood up, grabbing Kala in my arms. "Kala, I'm going to put you in my bedroom. I want you to take Calib and run as far away from here as you can. Find someone to help, but don't come back here." I squeezed her tightly, and shut her into my bedroom.

"Liliana," Brendan stood up. "Do you know how Shane is back?" I looked at him then shook my head. "It's a complicated process. It must've been very difficult to do. You see, it takes an elemental stone that matches the type of person they were, and then it takes a living person with the same attributes along with a Pokemon of that type to perform the ritual. The Pokemon is used as a sacrifice, and the living person-" Before Brendan could finish, Shane had his hands around his throat.

"Liliana, do you have any last words to say to him?" Shane jeered. I ran forward, and clenched my hands around his wrists. I dug my nails in until Shane's arms bled, but I couldn't pull him off. "Stop that, or I'll kill him without good-byes." Shane tightened his grip, and I let go of him. He loosened his hold, but he lifted Brendan into the air just enough that his feet dangled inches from the ground. In a last attempt, I ran to the other side of the room, where the kitchen was, and picked up a knife.

"Let him go or I'll kill you!" I yelled. Shane snickered. He gripped Brendan more firmly.

"You come near me and he's a dead man." He shook Brendan up a little bit. I stood there, trying to think of a way to stop him. My heart raced and I could feel my stomach clench as Shane tightened his hands once more. "I suggest you say good-bye before it's too late."

"Liliana," I looked at Brendan, and saw his face was red from choking. He coughed then tried to speak again. "I mentioned he needed an elemental stone to be brought back, but it's also what's needed to keep him alive." He made choking sounds as Shane clenched his fists even harder, in an attempt to silence Brendan.

"Shut up, you fool. You don't know what you're talking about!" He hissed. Brendan gasped for breath, but little came.

"Liliana, y-you must find where his Fire Stone is. It would show on his skin, but you- You'll have t-to cut it out of his flesh." Brendan began making more and more alarming sounds. I rushed at Shane, the knife outstretched. Shane removed one of his hands from Brendan's neck, allowing him to breathe a little. He held it out, but I kept the knife out, and I sliced into his wrist, making him drop Brendan to the ground.

"You never truly loved me before, and I don't know why you're after me now, but I won't feel any guilt in destroying you this time." I said, then swung the knife's sharp blade, cutting it deep into Shane's other arm, then pulled it out sharply, watching as a small fragment of stone came out of his arm and dropped to the ground, mixed with blood. I looked up at Shane and watched as his body began to decay in front of me. I didn't notice the blood that had splashed over me, for the sight of what had just happened was to frightening to notice anything else. I dropped the knife at the side of the still-decaying body of my dead ex-husband then rushed to the aide of my truly loving current husband. I wrapped my arms around him, crying on his shoulder as I saw the marks on his neck from where Shane's hands had been moments before. I stood up, helping Brendan to his feet, and let him pull me in close as he swept away the pain and tears with a gentle kiss. I wasn't sure how long we stayed like that, but it was dark by the time people started arriving saying they got Kala's message.
They cleared out Shane's body and a few of the neighbors helped clean up the rest of the mess. I still clung tightly to Brendan as they carried out the remains of Momma, but even though I was sad, I also felt more secure then than I ever had before.

After that day, Brendan and I decided to move away from the whole place, leaving behind all our bad memories, but bringing with us a world of opportunities, love, and a family that kept on growing. Kala eventually got her traits, and she was delighted to find out she took after her father as a Raiku. Calib never learned about what happened while he was just a baby, but I always suspected that that was the cause of his fear of fire types. Corbin, Carol and Chloe were always known as the Espeon Triplets, even when they grew older. Everything kept peaceful and normal, just as it was supposed to be.