Warnings: Some violence. And adult themes, I guess you could say.
Note: I completely made up the names of Pip's parents.
~Damien's P.O.V~
I remember that day so clearly. It was a unique day, a day something that doesn't usually happen, happened. The day Phillip's parents died.
I was just minding my own business, doing my job, when suddenly, I heard loud, angry shouts outside. It was unusual for this peaceful village, so I quickly finished cutting the victim off from the flow of life and rushed to the window, peeking my head out in curiosity. I saw a parade of people following someone, shouting things such as 'you witch!' and 'kill the child of that disgusting creature!'. I frowned in confusion and opened the front door, leaving the house I was in, and making sure to go into human form. Who were the humans shouting at? I stopped a young girl, determined to find out.
"What is going on?"
"Lydia had a baby and managed to hide it for two years! And she didn't marry the father!" The girl says in excitement, obviously happy to witness such a rare occurrence of events.
"But they said to kill the baby. What does that mean?"
"They want to kill the baby because the papa is a fairy!" The girl exclaimed, happily proceeding with her chase, as many other humans were. My mouth dropped open. A fairy and human had a child without marrying? The fairy was definitely going to be executed then. And the human was as well, though not for the same reasons, I presumed. The fairies were unhappy about the non-existent marriage; the humans were unhappy because of the relationship with the fairy in the first place. A deafening whistle sound went through the air, and I knew what it meant.
"Attention all fairies! John Barlow is to be executed in one hour. Please attend this event, or else in ten minutes, my co-workers and I will have to take you by force. That is all!" I rolled my eyes and started to make my way over to the forest. Those damn 'Authority' fairies.
When I got there, the execution was still waiting to start. I sneaked my way over to Craig. He didn't even blink when I calmly stopped next to him, but he knew I was there. He knew. After a few minutes, he finally said something.
"You were in town just now, correct?"
"Yes." I detested having to tell the truth.
"Did you see what happened to the mother?"
"No, all I saw was people chasing her. She most likely ran into the forest."
"I see."
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, I heard Ruby speaking to Kenny about the child."
"Your sister?"
"Yes. She said something about you as well. I just wanted to know where the child is. The mother most likely has him with her."
"What did they say about me?"
"I don't know, Damien. Ruby knows all kinds of shit from the future. Heh, maybe the baby is going to be your human. It's only ten years now, after all." He laughed. I glowered at the unamusing joke.
"Don't even joke about such a ridiculous thing." Craig continued chuckling to himself until the execution. The execution itself was nothing special. The only thing that really caught all our attention was what the man said before his sentence was carried out. The Elder had asked, "Do you have any last words, John?". The accused man said, "I have no regrets. I love my fiance and my boy, and I won't be forgiving you if you do something to them." The Elder merely laughed at his words, since there was no way John could do anything in the afterlife. Then again, both demons and angels were, and still are, very powerful.
The Elder stopped me as we were all leaving. "Damien, I want to make a request."
"What the fuck is it?" I snapped, still angry from Craig's little joke.
"I need you to dispose of the half fairy child. The child of 'those two'."
"I'm not your errand boy. Ask Craig's sister if you want to boss someone around."
"You need to do it."
"And why the hell is that?"
"Because I know you will have no problem with it. Wouldn't you like the opportunity to cause a human's death, and not just allow them to die? It's a rare opportunity, Damien." I took it into consideration and nodded.
"Fine, I'll do it. Just stop pestering me."
After the execution, I wasn't in a very good mood. I decided I wanted to be alone, and went very deep into the forest. I sat next to a tree and leaned on it, closing my eyes. Though very soon, the sound of hurried footsteps approaching made me shoot up. Could a human be here, so deep in the forest?
Apparently.
A young woman appeared, carrying a very small child, perhaps only one or two. It didn't take me long to figure out that she was the woman that everyone was looking for. She somehow saw me. I don't remember if I'd allowed myself to be visible to humans, or if she was just special, but she saw me either way. She ran over to me, and I grimaced at her. She did not look a good sight. Yes, she was very beautiful, and Phillip has inherited her blond hair and blue eyes, but she was in a complete disarray. Her hair was in knots, she was sweating profusely, and her clothes were torn from sharp branches. Though the baby looked completely unharmed.
"Please," She begged. "Please take care of my child. I beg of you." I leaned back, shaking my head almost fearfully. What did someone such as I know about raising children? I was better at killing them, not the opposite! Not to mention this child was a half-fairy, half-human. I didn't know what a half-fairy could do, or what they were capable of. This woman had chosen the wrong fairy to take care of her son.
"No, I cannot-
"Please, he'll die if you don't!" I remembered I'd been assigned to kill the boy. It would be a hell of a lot easier if the mother wasn't there to interfere.
"Alright, give him to me." The woman immediately handed her son to me, but not before and long hug and kiss goodbye.
"I love you so much…" She whispered to him, finally letting him go. I watched her run away, and heard her screams as she was finally caught and dragged back to the village. I took the opportunity to take a look at the boy. He was still longingly watching the area where his mother had ran off to. I almost dropped him in shock when I recognized his face. He was the boy I'd seen in my visions! He was the reason I'd been chased out of hell! But for some strange reason, I held no ill will towards him. He was just a small, baby boy, and I didn't feel the need to kill him. If it meant disobeying the Elder, so be it.
"Mother…" The boy said slowly, still staring at the empty space. He suddenly clutched onto the fabric of my waistcoat, looking at me desperately. "Mother! Take to mother!" I realized he wanted to see his mother, and, out of pity, I indeed took him. The humans were setting up the hanging of his mother. I frowned at the sight, and before I could stop him, Phillip has struggled out of my arms and ran into the crowd of people. I quickly changed into human form and followed. The boy had managed to get himself to the front, and was looking up at his mother. She didn't see him. "Moth-
I quickly covered his mouth before he could say the word. I scooped him up, keeping my hand over his mouth, and hissed quietly. "Listen, if one person here finds out she's your mother, then you shall die as well. Do you want to die?" He shook his head, presumably only understanding the last question. "Good." I glowered as they started the execution. "Young eyes such as yours do not need to see such things." I said, whirling him around and taking him away. I do not know what came over me. I just knew that the child was special, and I didn't hate him the way I normally hated children.
By nightfall, the child had learned my name. I didn't care to learn his name, since it didn't matter much. The Elder suddenly came by, and I hid Phillip behind a tree quickly. I put my finger to my lips, telling him to be silent, as the Elder noticed me and came over.
"So have you done it yet? Finished the job?" He asked smugly.
"Yes. Long ago." I answered boredly, trying not to look fidgety.
"Well done. Though I do think it's strange that he hasn't shown up as a new fairy yet."
"He was half-fairy. Who knows what happened to him after he died?"
"Very true, Damien. That is all." The Elder then left, smirking to himself. I went back to a confused Phillip. I sat down and positioned him on my lap, sighing. What was I doing? Such an absurd situation for me to be in. I noticed Phillip studying me closely.
"Where is Damien's mother?" He suddenly asked. I was surprised at the question.
"She's dead."
"Is my mother dead now?" He looked hopeful that she wasn't. I decided to lie.
"No. She cannot take care of you anymore."
"Will Damien care for me?" I didn't answer. Phillip suddenly gasped, and I looked to my left to see Craig's sister standing there.
"What do you want, Craig's sister?"
"I am not his sister. And I have a name!"
"Whatever, Craig's sister. Run along."
"I ain't a lil' kid anymore! Jeez!"
"I have no idea what you just said, but I think it'd be best if you got the fuck out of here."
"With pleasure. So long as you give me the kid."
"Do you mean this child?" She nodded. I laughed at her stupidity. "No. You are not taking this child off to his death."
"Why would you care about him?" I glared at her. Was it any of her business? "Meh, it doesn't matter. Rest assured, I won't kill him. On the contrary, I'm gonna take him to his family."
"What family? His parents are both dead!" Phillip whimpered, and I realized I'd indirectly informed him about his mother's death. "Damn, how does this boy understand so much? He's only two!"
"It's 'cause he's a half-fairy, half-human! Someone like that doesn't belong with you! So give 'im to me!"
"Again, what family does he have?"
"He has an aunt by blood, and she has her parents. They will have to take care of him. He cannot stay with you." The words hit me like a brick, and I immediately understood what she meant. Who was I kidding? I could never have raised a child that young.
"Alright." I picked Phillip up and started to give him to Ruby, but he held on. I looked into his desperate eyes, actutally feeling guilty. Ruby saw my troubled look and spoke again.
"There's no need to feel guilty. I'm gonna erase his memories of you, so he won't even know you exist. I'll also erase the memories of his father, and of me. He doesn't need to know who he is yet."
"Just take him." I told her coldly, turning my back to her.
"Fine. But believe me, you'll see this kid again. In time."
"What do you mean?" I asked miserably, still not turning around.
"Naw, it'll be no fun if I tell ya." I then heard her fly off with Phillip. I started to walk away, trying to come to terms with the fact that he was already gone.
I don't know why I didn't recognize Phillip when I first noticed him stalking me.
It was hell when I received my wooden block from the Elder. I initially acted as if I didn't care, but I did. I calmly looked at the piece of wood and said 'tch, whatever.', but I was furious on the inside. Was this some kind of sick game by God? Why did the stalker have to be my human!?
Why?
~Pip's P.O.V~
My heart stops at the sound of the Elder's words. What does this fairy mean? Is he saying that one of my parents was a fairy? "This mysterious person's fairy side has finally awakened! He has now been revealed to be an 'Emotion' fairy, as Craig is as well! He is a threat to us all, this unknown creature! Who knows what he could do to us, or the humans?!"
"Leave him the hell alone! He cannot hurt any of us!" Ruby yells in defense, coughing from her sickness. Craig nods, agreeing with her.
"Damien." The old fairy suddenly says sternly, looking at him. Everyone else freezes and look at him too. The fairies start to murmur to each other nervously. I cringe, unsure of what's going to happen. Damien honestly does not like me, so there's a good chance he would hurt me. But then again, he was very protective after he found out who those red eyed girls are. "You have my very special permission. Go on, you can kill your human. You want to go back to hell, don't you? Go on, do it." I glance at Damien in alarm, breathing heavily in fear. The audience watches Damien, waiting for him to attack me. He doesn't. He merely stands there, looking at the ground and ignoring the command. "Damien." Damien finally looks up, scowling at the Elder fairy. "What's wrong? Is there something stopping you? Do it, Damien. Do it." Damien ignores the Elder again and looks straight at me. He doesn't say anything, but his eyes say so much. He's silently reassuring me. I sigh in relief, slumping. Many glance at me in confusion.
"I'm not going to kill him." Damien states quietly, folding his arms.
"What did you say? Repeat yourself." Damien refuses to do so, but his venomous stare says everything. All of the fairies gasp at the realization, and once again murmur to each other. Even the old man looks taken aback. He suddenly laughs to himself.
"Unbelievable. Damien Thorn doesn't want to kill a human. For what reason is this, Damien?" It's obvious. He doesn't want to go to hell.
"For personal reasons." I blink in astonishment at his answer. He sees my reaction and immediately looks away. "E-Either way, I'm not going to kill him. So don't fucking touch him." He says calmly to the Elder, though his glare is as sharp as a knife.
"I see…" The Elder's calm face suddenly turns murderous when he lays eyes on me. "Then I'll have to do it myself!" He lunges at me, and I quickly dodge, since the cowardly fairy holding me down doesn't want to be in the way of the Elder. I realize the the midst of all this, the fairy that pinned me down has tied my arms up. The Elder looks at the 'Authority' fairy that's holding Ruby down. The fairy immediately nods in obedience and comes at me; with a knife. I brace myself, since he's too close to dodge this time.
"PHILLIP!" Damien shouts, trying to fly over to me. Since I haven't felt anything, I open my eyes and gasp in shock. Ruby (who is now free to move) has leaped up and ran to my aid. Without thinking, she has just taken a knife to the chest, clearly fatally. It's a good thing she's a fairy, or else…
My heart sinks when I see a large golden bangle around her wrist. An 'Authority' fairy must have put it on. The one who stabbed her is clearly in shock, as most of us are. Damien regains his composure and quickly runs over to me, pulling out an expensive looking dagger from his pocket and cutting off the ropes. He pulls me away from the scene slightly not wanting me to be in the reach of danger. The fairy who stabbed Ruby pulls out the knife and stares at the blood, almost regretfully. Ruby steps back and doesn't say anything. I voice my thoughts.
"R-Ruby! What are you doing? Take off the bangle!" I yell, now at a distance from her. She looks at me, distraught, and I know that she isn't able to take it off. It must be a special bangle. I watch in confusion as a fairy suddenly comes forward and throws a strange grey ball onto the ground. A huge array of smoke suddenly bursts into the air, and I hear Ruby say quietly, "Thank you, Esther."
Damien suddenly grabs my arm and pulls me out of the clearing. I cough, having inhaled some of the smoke. Damien drags me all the way to the edge of the forest until we stumble out on a large path we use as the main road. I glance behind me, still coughing, and am surprised to see Craig following behind, carrying Ruby. As I turn back around, Damien crashes into somebody. Leopold soon regains his balance, holding a lantern up, since it's very dark now.
"Pip, where have you been?" He hisses. "They sent me out to come and look for you! Do you know how scary it is out here without Kenny with me? It's damn scary!" He frowns as Craig stops beside us with Ruby, panting.
"What's going on?"
"This is no time for explanations! If Ruby isn't healed soon, then, in this condition…" I also look at Craig.
"But she's already dead. What could happen to her?" Craig stays silent. Damien decides to answer for him.
"If a fairy 'dies' in human form, the fairy basically turns into a lifeless doll. It does not happen often."
"I don't wanna be a vegetable!" Ruby says in a raspy voice. For the past day it has been raspy because of her sickness from her possession that Damien told me about, but it's even more raspy now.
"What happened to her?" Leopold asks, puzzled.
"A fairy tried to stab me, but Ruby got in the way!" I explain helplessly.
"What!? Ruby, why-
"This isn't the time! We need to get to Kenny, fast!" Craig interrupts.
"But… But he's trapped in the future now!" Leopold exclaims. The realization dawns on all of us. There is no way to get to Kenneth. The only audible noise is Ruby's wheezing.
"There… is… one… way." Ruby eventually says, coughing.
"What is it?" I ask. She gestures over to Leopold. He immediately comes over, and she holds her hand out. He takes it, and jumps.
"What's wrong, Leopold?" I tilt my head in confusion.
"I can hear her thoughts. I do not know how. She cannot speak that well, so she's asking me to be her voice. She says…" Leopold listens carefully. "'You need a different 'Time Travel' fairy, but there aren't any others. Though, I do know one person who is destined to be a 'Time Travel' fairy after she dies.'"
"Who is it?" Craig asks impatiently. Ruby looks at me almost remorsefully, and I know who she means.
"No…" I say quietly. "NO! NOT STELLA!"