Sorry to keep you guys waiting for an update. I haven't been feeling too well lately, so I put my energy into typing up my novel. I'll share that after the chapter if you guys want to see what else I come up with outside fanfics. Anyway, this chapter is a relatively easy one, as I'm way tired and my hips/back are killing me. Just two more months and Victoria will be out. Enough babbling, onto the chapter!

TW: none

Chapter 9-Underneath (Arcy, Kiri)

Diane visited her daughter on a regular basis, trying not to miss a day after she got done working. On the third day, Elsa was released from the hospital and went home with crutches. Diane showed Arcy how to walk in them and that the height on the crutches could be adjusted until it was comfortable. Arcy was a bit wobbly on the crutches at first but by the time they got to the parking lot she was doing well. Diane still wasn't sure how well this little girl would do in high school. Maybe one of the others would come and take her place? She drove them home and helped Arcy to her room, where she laid down on a comfy bed and promptly fell asleep for a nap. As Diane went to the living rom, she got her cell phone from her purse and dialed Dina. "Dina, it's Diane. Elsa's been released. When can we come in?"

There was the sound of rustling papers on the other end. "We can do tomorrow at 10. Would that work?"

"I'll call her out of school and bring her. Hopefully we can find out what happened."

"Let's hope so. For now, just keep whoever is fronting calm and safe."

"That I can do."

Arcy walked back to the castle without the crutches. Didn't she need them to walk though? Maybe that was just while she was with her mom. She shrugged and saw Astra walking back as well. "Nia!" Arcy ran and jumped onto Astra's back.

Astra was slightly surprised by her sudden appearance. "Arcana! There she is! Is she alright? Where has she been?" She looked over her shoulder at the cute little girl.

"She's alright. She's been with Mom. She walks with crutches with Mom though, cause she had a nasty fall. Bones got hurt and so did her head. The hospital was alright but today she allowed to go home. Mom has been real nice. She lets her draw whatever she wants!"

"Well I'm glad she's alright. I was worried about her."

"You were?"

"Why wouldn't I be? " Astra smiled and reached back to ruffle Arcy's hair. "Let's go to the castle. Have you eaten yet?"

"She had some nasty hospital food but nothing else."

"Well then let's get you to some real food." Astra smiled as Arcy clung to her back.

Kiri rubbed her head. She looked around, seeing she had been chosen to front. Well, at lest she could clear up any mess. Sudden pain shot through her leg and arm, making her look down. There was a brace on her left arm and cast on her right leg. Is this what Nassiri had done when she escaped? God was it painful. She slowly sat up, letting the nausea and headache ease and dissipate before moving. After she felt better, Kiri eased herself off the bed and grabbed the crutches to leave the room. She hobbled to the living room and sat on the couch.

"Feeling better?"

"I am, thanks Diane," Kiri answered. "It's Kiri. Arcana seems to have gone to the inner world."

"oh. Well hello Kiri. How are things?"

Kiri sighed. "Not so good. Elsa is out cold and she won't wake up."

"Oh dear," Diane came in and sat beside her, eating a bowl of cereal. "That's not good. The doctor said Elsa would be in a coma. I thought when Arcy fronted that perhaps Elsa was awake and just hiding."

"Nope. Elsa herself is in a coma. What happened?"

Diane sighed as she swallowed a mouthful. "I'm not sure. I was at work when I got a call from Elsa's principle. She had started walking out of class and eventually the building. I was on my way when a police man pulled me over and led me to where Elsa had been seen. She was on the high bridge half a mile from the school. Before I could get out of the car, Elsa had slipped from the bridge and fallen to the ground." She avoided eye contact, staring at her cereal.

"I'm sorry, Diane. It must have been heart wrenching to see your only child…." Kiri didn't finish her sentence. The ending was implied. She put a hand on Diane's shoulder. "But rest assured all of us will keep Elsa safe as best as we can. I promise you, we will."

Diane nodded slightly. "I just wish I knew what was going on in her head and what she was thinking…"

Kiri sighed. "Diane, I can tell you now that Elsa wasn't in control of her body. It was a dangerous who Astrania and I had locked up. Somehow she escaped. But she's been dealt with, so it won't happen again." 'At least I hope not.'

Diane finished her cereal, set the bowl on the table and rubbed her eyes. "What can I do to help my little girl? I feel so lost."

Kiri frowned. "The most important thing you can do for Elsa is just be supportive and listen. She needs you more then you know."

"Alright." She paused. "I told Ian what's going on. He didn't believe me. Like I suspected, he thinks Elsa is just faking it for attention. I tried to explain it as best as I could but I didn't get anywhere."

"Sometimes people don't want to think a condition like Elsa's is real. His biggest reason for denying it is he probably doesn't want to accept most of the blame for it. Don't let it get to you. You need to focus on Elsa and helping her recover from all of this."

"I'm doing my best," Diane mumbled.

"And that's all Elsa could ask for."

Diane sat up and looked to Kiri. "Thanks, Kiri. Hearing that really helps. I've felt so…lost and clueless in how to support her. But just hearing that my best is good enough to Elsa is a relief."

"She couldn't have a better mother." Kiri stretched and twitched. "This bloody cast is so itchy! Someone needs to invent a type of tool that lets you scratch under a cast." A slight smile touched Kiri's lips as Diane laughed.

"Wish I could help with that but the most I can do is get you something to eat. What would you like to eat?"

Kiri blinked. Thinking about it, she didn't remember the last time she had a full meal. "Something that's filling. I can't remember the last time I had a meal."

Diane got up and took her bowl to the kitchen. "I'll make some chicken salad for you, then. I might regret asking, but what's this dangerous altar like?"

Kiri sighed. "She's pure, twisted evil. All she wants is to cause chaos and ruin Elsa's life. If it wasn't for her black wings and sleazy clothing, I wouldn't be able to tell her apart from Astrania. But Nassiri, that's her name, is extremely dangerous. She is the one who was in control when Hans was here that night. She just wants to hurt everyone-including the other altars."

"How many of you are there?"

"For now there are 6 of us. If Elsa keeps fracturing form reality though, it's possible more could be made."

"Six? That's a lot." Diane began the cooking process for the chicken salad. "Do you know everyone's name?"

"Well, of course you know me, Arcana and Anna. There's also Ayalah the mute, Nassiri and Astrania. That's all of us for now. Nassiri is the only one who's dangerous."

"Are you guys safe from her in the inner world?"

"Well, she's trapped in the coma void where I rescued Elsa from, so hopefully for now we're safe. Astrania is usually the one to deal with Nassiri. I don't understand how those two are twins. Astrania is so dedicated to safety and everyone's happiness and then there's Nassiri, the polar opposite."

Diane frowned. "Well, all this roots from Elsa herself, right? Maybe when she wakes up you could ask her?"

Kiri shook her head as Diane brought in her food. "Thanks," she smiled. "Asking Elsa could be dangerous. With a disorder like hers, there are often chunks of memory missing or blacked out as a defense and protection mechanism. If she were to think about it and end up having a flashback of a memory she blocked, it could result in her getting worse. Memories are something to ease into."

"I see. Well, for now all we can do is get to the next appointment with Dina tomorrow."

"Agreed." Kiri nodded. She began eating and the t.v became the only sound in the room as Diane took in everything she had been told.

Short but like I said, I haven't been feeling well lately. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for reading/faving/following! My books are on the site fictionpress, under the same pen name. Here are the book names:

Demon Diaries (book 1), Goddess Diaries (book 2)

Go ahead and give those a read if you want, maybe give a review or whatever. My book series is in book 6 and I'm posting it all online. Tedious work. I blabber. Thanks for joining me for this new chapter and thanks if you take a look at my book.