"You don t have to leave, you know that don't you?"
Shilo was quiet. She was packing the green army back-pack Clay had given her yesterday. She didn't look up as he took a seat on her bed, causing the springs to whine under his weight. Shilo swallowed the lump in her throat as she picked up the blue rubber mouse and the red ball of yarn.
Nuada's offer of training was something Shilo felt she could not give up. She needed to learn control. Upon her meeting with the demon Prince of Sheol, Shilo immediately knew something needed to be done. The dark lord had made it perfectly clear that she was to play a role in the Earth's destruction.
Shilo, small five-year-old Shilo, felt like she wanted to puke. It was impossible for her to accept that someone like Hellboy, the man she looked to as a friend and somewhat father figure, would be the destruction of humanity. The destruction for an Eden that only the strong and few would live to see.
Shilo wished she could tell Hellboy this. Why she had to leave, even though she truly didn't want to. "Don't you like it here, kid?" Shilo felt her stomach drop to the floor, as she quietly sat next to him, causing the bed to whine a little more. Shilo, tears leaking from her eyes, placed her small right hand on his stone shoulder.
"Of course, Mr. Hellboy. I do like it here. I love being with you, Liz, Abe, and the twins." Shilo closed her eyes, swallowing the whimper in her voice. "It s just that... I m dangerous, Red." Shilo lifted her knees to her chest, placing her chin on her kneecaps. "Nuada... He'll teach me how to fight. To protect myself. To control my inner demon."
Shilo finds herself swallowing hard as she mentally kicks herself, seeing Hellboy flinch at "demon." It's a word she knows he despisses. It has been used against him plenty of times by the prince. Hearing it come from her mouth seems to be like a kick to the head for him.
"Shilo, we'll teach ya-" Shilo cuts him off, knowing full well that what he is suggesting will not work. "Mr. Hellboy... it s for best that... That I leave. Nuada believes-" She is cut off by Hellboy, who seems determined to not give up.
"Aw, Princy can just go fu-" Shilo places her small right hand in his large stone hand, squeezing his stone index finger gently, cutting him off. She locks eyes with his, before standing, walking in-front of him. Softly, Shilo places her forehead to his. A defeated sigh is pulled from him. The fight has gone out of him
"Please, Mr. Hellboy." She wraps her arms around his kneck, pulling him closer to her, tears falling down her cheeks. "It s for the best." Shilo is meet with silence. Hellboy moves his stone arm around her, drawing her towards him. She smiles into his chest. "I'll return. I promise."
Hellboy, his arms trapping her, gives a growl of sigh, before letting her pull away. Shilo looks at her bag, then to Hellboy, who raises himself to his full height from her bed, his figure slouched and defeated.
A knock is heard on the door, as Myers enters. His expression is sad, as he nods to her. "He's ready." Shilo nods, grabbing her bag and zipping it shut. Throwing it over her small shoulders, Shilo walks pass Hellboy, looking over her shoulder with a small smile and wave."Take care, Mr. Hellboy." With that she steps out her room, following Myers.
Myers and Shilo make it down two hallways, before Shilo smiles softly, hearing Hellboy's large steps behind her. Shilo follows Myers to the entrance platform, where Nuada is waiting. Nuala hugs her brother, a sad look on her face.
"I will return before my nephew is born. I promise that, sister." Nuala nods sadly, as she takes a step back, leaning against Abe. Nuada shifts the bag on his shoulder, locking eyes with Abe. "I leave her safety in your hands, brother Sapien." A small smile appears on Nuala's face, as Abe bows. "You didn't even have to ask."
Shilo walks over to Nuala, who pulls her into a motherly embrace. She softly runs her hands down her hair, her fingers tickling her ears ever so often. "Take care of yourself, little Shilo. And please, make sure Nuada stays healthy." Shilo nods against her hold, smiling as she is released to Abe, who places a webbed hand in hers, causing Shilo to smile as he replays their first meeting. "I'll miss you too, Abe."
Shilo release Abe's hand. She takes two steps towards Nuada, only to stop as she feels something grasp her tail. Turning, Shilo feels her heart swell at the sight of Liz and Hellboy holding Ella and Trevor, who was gripping her tail with his stone right hand.
"Kii! Gaahoo!" Trevor gurgles, as Liz releases his hold on Shilo's tail, handing him to Hellboy, before pulling Shilo into a warm embrace. Shilo swallows back her tears, as Liz pats her back and places her forehead to hers, a sad smile on her beautiful face.
"Come back, OK?" Liz whispers. Shilo nods, understanding that Liz knows what its like to leave and not want to come back. "I promise I will. And... I'll attempt to write whenever I can." Liz smiles, releasing her.
Shilo turns her attention to Hellboy, who, with a sad smile, hands Ella and Trevor to her. Ella, yawning softly, cuddles her cheek into her left shoulder, her left flesh thumb popping into her mouth. Shilo chuckles, before her gaze falls on Trevor, who clutches a strand of her hair, a sad look in his yellow eyes.
Click!
A blinding flash tells Shilo that Liz has taken a picture. Shilo gives a soft chuckle, pulling a smile from Trevor, who giggles and pulls her strand of hair a little harder, causing her head to tilt towards him. "I'll miss you too, little guy."
Shilo slips the now sleeping Ella to Liz, before rubbing her nose to Trevor's, who giggles as he's handed off to Hellboy. Trevor, a determine wave of his hands, reaches out towards her, cooing and grunting as he tries to pull from his fathers grasp.
"Child! It's time." Shilo turns to Nuada nodding, before turning back to Trevor, waving goodbye to him and the others, before she runs to the slowly rising platform.
She climbs onto the platform in time, steadying herself. She stares down at others, pain in her chest as she hears Trevor cry for her. "I'll see them again, wont I prince Nuada?"
Shilo turns to Nuada, who had remained silent as the platform rises to the cover up building. They make their way towards the door, as he glances at her. "Yes. You'll see them again. In time."
And with that, Shilo and Nuada exit the building.
To be Continued in the next installment.
R&R Plz