Chapter 7: Blood Moon Manor

"So… um…" I'd noticed Marco fumbling, fidgeting around for a while now, all the way since we'd gotten our appetizers. I hadn't commented on it then, feeling that it wasn't appropriate to ask. "How much of, uh… the Underworld do you rule over?"

I looked over at him and quirked an eyebrow. "Me?" I laughed a little. "Oh, I don't rule anything. My parents do all of that."

"Well… okay, how much do your parents… rule over?"

"Um…" I mulled it over a little bit. I knew that the White Moon Kingdom was bordered over by New Styx, but as to how much land that meant we had, I didn't have a clue. "It's a good amount." I decided on. "They don't like… rule over all of Hell or any crazy thing like that. Just one kingdom out of some."

"So… your family… must be pretty big, huh?"

"No; I'm an only child." And god, how I remember that. This whole big house with just my parents and I, for as long as I can remember.

He made a sad sort of face when I said that. "No, no, you don't understand… like, it's big as in famous, right?"

"Yeah. I mean, the Blood Moon Ball's one of the biggest things my family hosts yearly. It's mostly just for status, bringing in all the rich families and other kingdoms, but sometimes they hope to get me a date…" I murmured the last part with a sour tone. "But hey, I guess it worked this time, didn't it."

He frowned. "It doesn't sound like that's… gone over well in the past."

"It hasn't, really." I grimaced. "I mean… obviously me taking you out means I'm single. So… it hasn't worked out the best." His ears went back. "Honestly, Mom and Dad want me to marry into royalty, but… I hate being restricted to shit like that, y'know? I've dated people down in private school, but they either a) didn't meet Mom and Dad's criteria or b) they did meet Mom and Dad's criteria, but I just didn't like them."

"So… does that mean that they're not gonna like me…? I mean…" He bit his lip, moving his hand to his arm. "For all intents and purposes, I'm a peasant. I mean… I… Can you… Would you even be able to… to be with me?"

I put a hand on his shoulder and smiled. "Well, of course, Marco. I mean, sure they'd prefer me to have a guy that was royalty, but… I don't care to please them, so they've really lowered their standards over time. I mean, hell, I didn't want to turn out to be this… stupid problem child for my parents – I really do wanna please them – but if they're gonna try and deny me the person I love because of that person's status? Then I'm glad to disappoint. Even if it means I get banished, or whatever… I don't wanna… lose the chance to be with the person I love just… just to have what? Power? Wealth? I mean, sure it's nice, but…" I sighed. "I mean, Dad's been getting cooler with it lately. He tries to kinda understand me and my stupid phases, tries to use some – I don't know – 'fresh teen lingo' or whatever he thinks it is. He's the one that got me Scamp, so… when I introduce you to my parents, I want you to meet him."

Marco had been smiling until then. "Wait, 'when'? I'm gonna meet your mom and dad?" He asked, a worried look on his face.

"Well… yeah…" I murmured. "I mean, you're staying at my house, aren't you? Doesn't it lend itself that you'll meet them?"

He scratched the back of his head, looking nervous. "I-I guess… Are they nice people?"

"Yeah, they're nice. Mom can be a little strict, though. But it's cool; just looking out for my best interest."

"I see… Um… we didn't get dessert back there. I thought we were?"

I gave a small laugh. "No, not there. You wouldn't be able to eat any of the dessert there. You remember that little square you pointed out? And you were like 'oh, why are we moving away from it'?"

"Um… yeah!" He nodded.

"There's a few dessert places there; I could take you to one of them. I mean, I was planning on taking you to my house first, then we could get you settled down. Then we could go off and find a good dessert place. That okay with you? Or, um… we could have dessert now, if you want."

"Oh no, no… I'm full from dinner, so… yeah, going to your place and back, maybe it'll work up a little appetite." I nodded to Brian, who started up the car to take us back home. "So, um… what's this thing you wanted to show me?"

I smiled, taking his hand. "It's at my house. After you accepted my proposal, I…" I laughed nervously, blushing a little black. "I kinda told my mom and dad about you…"

"Oh, I see…" He nodded, then quickly looked back at me. "Wait what?!"

My blush grew. "Yeah… I kinda… already introduced you, in a way, to my parents. So, they already knew you weren't of status, but Mom didn't care at that point. As long as you make me happy, then they don't care." I shrugged. "So they whipped up a few things for you back home. Sorry I made you worry over nothing." I scratched the back of my head.

Marco seemed flattered, smiling with a hand over his mouth. "No, no, that's okay; that was really sweet of them to do that. Thank you…" He returned to the window, watching the landscape change as it went by. "Tom?" He asked, looking back at me.

"Yeah?"

"See, if… if I'm gonna visit your parents, I only think it's fitting that you meet mine."

That only made sense to me. "Oh of course, of course!" I nodded. "We can do that when you go to get your clothes for tonight."

"And all my hygiene stuff, but…" He looked off with a distant expression.

I gave him a moment, but it seemed that he trailed off indefinitely. "Marco?"

"Hm? Yeah. Hygiene stuff and my clothes and stuff. Yeah."

"What's on your mind?" I rubbed his hand.

"Nothing important…" He murmured. "Am I gonna get a room for myself?"

"Well, yeah; it's a big house. Plenty of extra rooms." Though I was still concerned about his expression, I didn't want to push it too much. "I'll be sure to have a room set up for you to occupy when we get there." I scooted closer and pet his shoulder.

"Okay…" He looked back out the window, still looking rather distant. I only hoped that he would get better when we got there. I wondered what it was I said…

"Do you need Scamp to hold on to?"

"No… I'm fine."

I frowned. "You sure…?"

"I'm sure."

I decided to take Scamp for myself; my worry was turning into stress. Did I seriously fuck up that bad? First I made him cry, now he was doing a thousand-yard stare. God, I was doing just… such a great job. I stopped petting him when he'd fluffed up from the static.

We continued in this silence until Brian stopped the car out in front of our house. "Marco…" I gave his shoulder a gentle shake and he jumped a little. "We're here…"

He looked over at me with unfocused eyes. I thought he might have nodded off a few moments there. "Oh… okay." I helped him out of the car and he finally appeared to pay attention as he stretched. "Sorry…" He murmured. "I was just… thinking a lot."

I took him close to me and looped an arm around his shoulder. "Thinking of what?"

"Of the stay here… I wonder how my mom and dad will react…" He had a concerned look on his face. "And Star…"

I was fine with his line of reasoning, up until Star; easily then, I was concerned myself. "Well… if your mom and dad were cool you even going on this date with me, I'm hardly concerned about them. Star, on the other hand…" I trailed off, looking away. She's always been a possessive sort of girl, honestly, and knowing her, she's gotten all sorts of possessive over Marco. Plus, y'know, the glaring fact that I dumped her, and a few months later, stole her best friend. So, yeah… she'd have plenty to say about me. "I think she'll be fine." I lied.

"You sure?"

"Well, yeah. The least she could do is respect your decisions, and I think she's a girl that respects a lot of people."

He looked up at me, smiling a bit. "Yeah, I guess so."

"Well, anyway," I set Scamp back into the car and took out my handkerchief. "Close your eyes."

He looked at me hesitantly. "Why…?"

"So your surprise isn't spoiled; it's right behind that gate, so… I just need them closed for a few moments."

He knit his eyebrows at me, but obeyed and closed his eyes. I tied the kerchief over them so he didn't peek. The gate to the house opened up, and as Brian went ahead, I took Marco's hand and led him in myself. After Brian was out of sight, I untied it from his face.

"Can I open them now?" He asked gently.

"Wait, wait. Gotta… position you just right." After I did, I whispered close to his ear. "Open your eyes."

He did so slowly, blinking a few times. He opened his eyes to the Blood Moon Manor's expansive garden, trimmed and arranged nicely just for his visit, with all the azaleas and fire roses. Of course, most of it was the same as I'd remembered, but I'd made sure blood and fire roses were out front just for him. He looked around in awe, stepped a few steps forward, looking around.

"Do you like it?" I asked gingerly, making sure to pluck a fire rose from the side.

"It's…" He looked around a little more, marveling at the display. "It's so beautiful… Who arranged all of this?"

I smiled at his wonder. He walked down the path, and I followed, looking over the moonflowers and glowing tulips. "It's… my first mom's. She always loved gardening, saw through the production of this whole place, even the backyard. After she died, my dad worked to help maintain it. He redid the whole front here when I told him you were coming."

He frowned over at me. "I'm so sorry… about your first mom."

I shook my head. "No no, don't worry about it; I didn't know her that well to begin with. But… y'know, she's the one I inherited my… really destructive anger issues from. The short fuse, and everything that follows." I sat down one of the marble benches by the wine-grape vines.

He sat down beside me. "So… what happened to her?"

I grimaced. "She… Well, that's a funny story. She was executed."

His expression dropped. "Executed…? Why…?"

"Well, like I said, this anger of mine – then, of ours – really… can wreak havoc. Even though Mom was royalty, her anger caused her to go berserk like me, and, well… as far as I know, she murdered a lot of demons down here. Eventually, the citizens lived in fear of her, and she lived in fear of herself. Riots went down in the streets, and the only way it would be calmed down would be her public execution; they demanded it, as payment for the citizens that died by her hand." I sighed. "Now, that was fifteen years ago; I wasn't old enough to remember what she'd done. But… when I was about four, I started displaying those same sort of traits my mother did. By then, Dad had gotten remarried and had renewed a sort of dignity and status. And for a while, Dad and my new mom lived in fear that I would be executed too." I gave a nervous laugh. "I still… kinda live with that worry, that… I'll go too far and it'll get me killed. So, with that kind of… fear they had, they sent me off to St. Olaf's. It's kinda like the boys-version of St. Olga's, if you know what that is." He gave a tense nod. "And I went there a few years; all it did was make things worse. I mean, the guys there are terrible, coming with all sorts of problems, pissing me off. It became a kind of game to see how far someone could annoy me without making me burst into flames." I looked over to see his reaction, and all I could make out was pity. Pity and sadness. "After a while, I was found out by the public, but all they did was give me warnings, thankfully. That was a few months ago, and that's when Mom and Dad hired Brian and adopted Scamp for me."

He looked down, a gloomy look on his face. "So… what's gonna happen to you?"

"Well, I'm kinda on this sort of watch list right now. Brian watches over me; I've got an ankle bracelet to track my movements." I said with a little bit of shame. I felt like a criminal for something I couldn't control. "I'm fine, as long as I don't do anything crazy. But I'm on thin ice, y'know? The people hold me to the same standard they held my mom, even though I'm younger. They have no sympathy for me. I mean, they respect me, sure, 'cause I still am a prince, but sometimes I feel like… like they're just watching my every move, waiting for me to fail." I shuddered a sigh. "I mean, I've seen the pictures of my mom's execution – seen all the reports. I don't…" I grit my teeth, biting back a sob. "I don't wanna get hanged, y'know? I don't… I don't wanna die." My breathing hitched and I whimpered, squeezing my eyes shut to hold back my tears.

I felt his arms wrap around me, his soft hair against my neck and chin. He rubbed my side and my arm, shushing me gently. "You're not gonna die, Tom." He reassured. "You're a great guy, and you've been so helpful to me, and kind to me. I know you have your anger issues and they're not all worked out – don't know if they ever will be nonexistent, because, like… those things never go away. I know you're worried, and it's all founded. But at least you're trying to help yourself, y'know? Before things get bad. At least you can get better this way."

I gave a strained sigh, letting some tears roll out. Then I felt a plush sensation on my cheek. A kiss. He kissed me. I looked over to him with a deep flush I knew was developing and I sniffled. "Thank you, Marco…" I leaned into his embrace and let a few tears fall when I buried my head in his shoulder.

"Hey…" He patted my back, then pulled my head up and wiped the tears from my eyes. "Don't cry… I know you're scared, but… please don't cry. You were gonna show me around, right?"

I nodded, voice damped by my crying. "Yeah. Let's… Let's get that done." I finished wiping off my face from where Marco began, got up and stretched, took his hand. "Thank you again."

"Don't worry about it, Tom." He gave my hand a squeeze. "I mean, after all, you helped me when I cried, too."

"Yeah… but that's just the right thing to do, y'know? I don't like seeing you cry."

"And I don't like seeing you cry, either."

I began to take him towards the manor, where Brian and the car were waiting. "Honestly, you already cried, and I already cried. We shared our darkest fears within a few hours. This shit's getting too intense for me, y'know? Best we cool it down a little…"

"I hope it'll relax a little too…" He paused a moment. "I'm… I'm sorry I confessed all that to you… It was a… a moment of weakness."

I frowned. "Sure, it may have been a moment of weakness, but I'm not upset you told me." I swung an arm around his shoulder and gave it a rub. "Those are real fears you can't control."

"But they're so stupid. I mean… you could be executed, and I'm complaining about being a loser…"

I shrugged. "Well, in your sphere, that's a really big issue. I can't imagine what it's like to not have friends; I've always had that large circle you envied, so I can't imagine the pain it could cause you. Just because mine's about… y'know, death doesn't mean your issues are any less valid."

"I guess…" He murmured, not seeming very convinced.

"Well… I'm glad I heard it. I'm glad you were able to let it all out to someone. Y'know, that it didn't manifest in… some other way." I looked down.

He looked no more reassured. "I… I guess."

I looked down, at a loss for options and words, but I soon remembered, "Here, I've got something that'll make you feel better."

Marco looked over at me, confused. "Well… what is it?"

I took out the fire rose, and offered it to him. He flushed and nodded. "O-Oh… I see…" I tucked it behind his ear after letting the fire go out, and I kissed his cheek.

He hid a hand over his face, smiling though he was embarrassed. "Thank you, Tom… it's beautiful."

"Just don't frown so much, okay? Your problems are much more valid than you give yourself any credit for. Please don't frown like this."

He looked down, then looked back up with a small smile. "Okay. For you, I'll hold off on it." Content, I took his hand and led him to the door, opening it into the manor for him, and he breathed out another "Whoa…" like he did when he first got down here.

I smiled, happy to have moved on from the heavy stuff. "You like it?"

"It's so… big." He looked around every inch of the place, moving closer to the decorations. "And… ornate, too. I'm guessing I can't touch them?"

"I'd prefer you not… Not just because it's expensive, but I honestly don't know if half of this stuff could actually hurt you. I just know that some do. Which ones, I'm not sure."

He moved a lingering hand away from one of the busts. "Oh… I see…"

"My parents' place is this way; come on." I took his hand and he came along with me to the massive doors that would lead to Mom and Dad's throne room. "You ready?"

He gave a sharp sigh. "Not really! But… what am I gonna do, right?" He took a deep breath, eyes full of fear and expectation.

"Hey, hey hey…" I stepped between him and the door, took his hands in mine, looked him straight in the eye. "Look at me. It's gonna be just like the dance last night, okay? Focus on me. You'll be alright, I promise."

"But… But this isn't like the ball. I-I mean… I didn't have to focus on all those people before. I can't just ignore your mom and dad!"

"I know that. You don't ignore them, but I'm saying, when you're feeling scared, you can focus on –"

Before I could finish, the throne room's doors powerfully swung open. "Making your proposals already, eh, Tom?"

"D-Dad… No! No, that is not what I'm doing! Stop right there with your accusations!"

Dad gave a quick chuckle, threw his arm around me, used the other one to ruffle my hair. "God, kid! I was only joking. So," He let go of me abruptly, and I staggered back a few steps, before he focused his attention on Marco. "Who's this little fry?"

Marco looked to me desperately, and I quickly returned to his side. "This is Marco. Marco Diaz. He's… He's from Earth."

"Earth. So that makes you… a human, right? Humans are still the dominant species there, right?" He crossed his arms.

Marco gave a squeak. "Um… y-yeah…" He nodded quickly.

"I see, I see. So, what makes you so special that you won over the heart of my boy over here?" And yet again, he had his thick red arm around me. "I expected a little more meat for him to nibble on." He gave another quick chuckle, and he roughly patted my back. As for what made that so funny is anyone's guess.

"Dad! Stop! Seriously…!" I threw his arm off me. "Marco… This is my dad, Anders."

Marco reached a hand out as a greeting. "Pleased to meet you, Your Highness."

Dad took the hand and pulled Marco in to give him a rough hug, patting his back with a chuckle. "Your Highness was my father's title, kid. I'd just rather be 'King'."

"Uh… King, then… I guess."

"Well, Marco. Let me get a good look at you." His tail prodded Marco's back, surprising him to stand upright. Dad gave a few hmm's here and there, then laughed. "Don't be so nervous, Marco. You look like a sweet young thing alongside Tommy here."

Footsteps soon approached from behind, giving an austere presence. "So, Thomas. Is this the boy you decided to bring home this time?"

I grimaced. "He's not just some boy, Mom; he's a human."

"Excuse me," Mom corrected. "Some human boy."

"Um… hello…" Marco greeted nervously, face red with embarrassment, retreating to my side. "Tom…"

"Marco?"

"Your mother is… a guy."

I smiled and laughed a little. "Yeah?"

"Oh. Well, y'know. Just… y'know, not a big deal or anything… Just kinda… expected when you said mother that… they'd… be… y'know, a girl." He looked down. "But it's cool, y'know? It's totally fine! I get it. That's cool. That's… It just… wasn't expected."

I pat his back. "Don't worry about it, Marco. It's not to be expected by human standards. But around here, it's pretty normal."

"So your first mom…?"

"Was a girl. She and my dad had me, then I ended up being the bastard child to my new mom."

"Bastard is hardly the word to describe you, Thomas." Mom interjected.

"Well it's true! I mean…" I sighed. "Marco, this is my mom, Obelus."

"Pleased to meet you." He bowed.

Marco returned with a "Pleased to meet you too."

"So, what makes you think you're worthy of my son?" Mom crossed his arms.

Marco looked over at me, then gave a shaky breath. "I… I-I… uh…"

"Mom! Quit it…! He has a nervous disposition as it is, and I introduced him to you guys as a favor. The least you could do is be a little nice to him." I stepped between them.

He still focused his attention on Marco. "Marco, was it? Marco Diaz? You're not the first boy my son's fallen in love with. So I'll say to you what I've warned to them: break his heart, and I'll personally see you down to Hell myself."

"Mom!" I growled, fists balled up. I could feel my heart racing, my mind going. I needed to collect myself. I took a deep breath, walked around a little bit around Marco, then took another deep breath, calming me down a little. "Just…" I grit my teeth. "Stop with the threats, okay? I hate them. I hate them so much."

Dad took Mom to the side. "Quit being so hard on the kids, okay? Please."

"Fine…" Mom turned back to me. "I apologize, Tom and Marco."

"Thanks…" I gave a strained sigh, taking Marco's hand – rougher than I'd wanted – to lead him out. After I closed the door, I gave a loud groan and slumped against it. "So! That's my mom and dad for you! Dad really picked a dead-wringer marrying him, huh?" I massaged my temples. "And honestly, I know more about him than my actual mom, and yet he doesn't know a damn thing about my anger issues. It's almost like he tries to piss me off, like everyone else."

Marco squatted down by me, looking at a loss for words. "I'm sorry about him, Tom… that sounds so difficult to live with."

Another long sigh. "It's fine. It's fine it's fine." I gave a clap and got up. "So dessert, right?"

"Maybe you should… give yourself a little bit more time to cool down…" He put a hand on my shoulder and gave it a reassuring rub. I relaxed there by the door for a little bit, following his advice, giving myself a few moments to breathe.

It really was difficult living with my new mom. It was almost like we never grew up together, never knew each-other. Dad did his best to try and bring us together, but no matter what he tried, we always seemed to be at odds. Mom always tried restricting my free spirit, seemed more than any council to reprimand me for my anger. I'm not even sure anymore he was doing it for my best interest, because no matter how hard I tried, I was never calm enough for him. My anger never could subside forever, like Marco said, but the way he treated me sometimes… sometimes I felt I had to destroy that part of me just to make him happy.

Marco snapped me back to reality with his shaky interjection. "Plus, um… I kinda wanted to grab my stuff from my place, y'know? All the hygiene and my clothes."

I nodded, glad to have gotten off that rail of thought. "Oh yeah, yeah! That's totally fine." I got up immediately. "To your place, then?"