Now that Elena has met Pentious it seems that he might be helping her out. She is starting to feel something from him helping her. It's only a matter of time though.
Ch 15: Slithering Stranger
[Third Person POV]
After about a month Elena did this same routine with Sir Pentious. She went to the snake demon every other day. All to try and learn her powers and to get better at them. This was on her mind more so than schoolwork. She loved school but she wanted to make sure her parents knew she could take care of herself.
Even with this in mind, she was still missing a lot of schoolwork. Of course, the school never really told her parents that she was missing class or that she wasn't in attendance. This was hell after all…they didn't really care about what education young hellborn's were getting. If they missed school then so be it. It was their choice. So, Elena was getting away with not being in school for this long.
The only person that seemed to notice was her friend Sam. She only saw Elena at the beginning of the school day, in their homeroom, but then she would disappear until the last bell rang to leave. Elena was trying to avoid her friend so that what she was doing would be kept secret. She didn't want anyone to know what she was doing. On the days she was in homeroom for the whole day, Elena brushed it off or would change the subject. It frustrated the young imp but she knew that her friend would break to her eventually. It just hurt the imp to see her friend go downhill.
Her parents didn't even notice, she would come back unharmed from her sessions so they never knew she wasn't in school most days. Plus, Pen would get rid of any smells from him off her before taking the girl back to the school. So, he would go undetected from her parents' nose, since they both were strong in that category. Otherwise, she would smell funny to them and would raise a red flag. They didn't want that.
It seemed the young hybrid's luck was not on her side though. The process with the snake demon was going slow and it seemed like everything they did wasn't working to make Elena's powers appear. It was frustrating her to a point but she knew she had to keep trying. Pentious was doing all he could to help her, thinking of new ways to help her with her powers. With inventions of his own making or other common means.
Today, Sir Pentious had Elena out in the open field where they practiced. She was trying to have something come forward as she tried to concentrate. Nothing was showing up and it was starting to frustrate her. "Ugh! Nothing is working!" She growled in frustration. "I'm trying the thinking technique you told me Pen but nothing is happening."
The snake was behind her watching as he had a cup of tea. He put the cup down in the hands of an egg boy and went up to her, curling around her. "Now nowww Elena it'ssss only your firsssst time trying thisssss. Don't worry, it will take ssssome time. If you want, can I pull ssssomething out that I have been working on?"
"No, I want to try on my own first." She answered him.
"As you wish." Sir Pentious shrugged and went back over to where he was drinking his tea.
Elena closed her eyes and tried to focus on trying to get something to happen. She tried to concentrate and have her mind just focus on one thing. She thought about fire so she was trying to see if she could control it, just like her dad. Plus, her mom was part dragon so she had to have some kind of connection with it. Trying to find something, a spark even, to see if she can make something happen.
She thought of her parents, how they controlled fire. Even just thinking of them soothed her, made her relax. Most of the time her mother's fire came from her anger but her dads was just out of pure magic. Soon enough she felt a warmth in her chest and it seemed to grow. Then it flowed into her arms and into her hands.
When Elena opened her eyes, she was in shock. There dancing in the palm of her hand was a little flame. A wide smile spread across her face. "Pen! Pen I did it! Look!" She said happily and turned around to show the snake demon the fire in her hand. Yes it wasn't much but at least it was something.
The snake demon looked up from his tea and saw the flame. He was happy but also disappointed, but he wouldn't show that. "Well done Elena! This is the mossst progresssss we've had in weekssss. Very nicely doneee." He praised her.
The girl's tail wagged with so much excitement. "Maybe if I keep trying then I can get a bigger flame and maybe have more of a fire come out."
"Yesss yesss keep going. We'll see what happenssss in a few more dayssss." Sir Pentious said and went back to sit down. As the girl was distracted he gave a sigh of annoyance. "I'll never get what I want at this rate. Stubborn just like her dad." He thought to himself as he watched the girl.
Soon their time was up and it was time for Elena to go back. So, the girl took today as a win and they got back on his blimp to head back to town. Once back to the alleyway, the egg boys made sure to clean the smells off her before they went to take her back. Elena crawled through the window and got to her classroom door just as the last bell rang.
"Perfect timing as always." She says and waits for the kids to clear out before going in and grabbing her backpack. As she stood there though there was someone behind her. She felt the presence and flicked her ears for a moment. She looked up and saw that it was the hellhound boy, CJ. She tried to stand her ground as the boy stood over her. "Hello CJ, how can I help you?" She asked nicely as she put her bag down.
"I want to know where you're going, pipsqueak. Sneaking off before school ends and coming back afterwards. What's your deal huh?" CJ wondered.
"What I do during school hours is none of your concern." She tells him and crosses her arms. "Not like I would tell you."
That's when the hellhound shoved her. "If you're going around sneaking out of school to avoid me then you have another thing coming."
Elena tried to keep her stance as he shoved her but she only took a step back. "It has nothing to do with you." Which was only a small lie as she was doing her power training with Sir Pen to help her with her bullies.
"I smell bullshit." He huffed and went and grabbed Elena by the shoulders and shoved her into her cubbyhole. "Don't fucking lie to me. You're trying to become stronger aren't you? Your pathetic, Gryaznaya krov. You always will. Just because you're avoiding people in school doesn't mean anything." He spat that dirty word at her that he liked to call her.
"Let go of me." She growled and tried to shove him back but it was hard when she was squeezed inside the cubby. She tried to get out but she was stuck to a point.
"Not until you tell me what you're doing!" CJ shouted, trapping her in the cubby.
Elena put her hand on the boy's arms, "I said GET OFF!" She yelled and was surprised when fire actually came out of her hands. It wasn't much but it was enough for CJ to feel the heat and sing the jacket he had on.
"AH! What the fuck!" The hound cried and backed up from the girl, looking at the burn marks on his jacket.
Elena quickly took the opportunity to get out of the cubby, grab her back and run. She quickly exited the classroom and went down the hall.
"Little bitch! Get back here!" CJ yelled behind her, finally realizing what happened.
The girl looked behind her to see the hound chasing her, his eyes glowing in anger. She gasped before trying to run faster. Some kids were still in the halls but she managed to get around them and made it outside. Luckily her mom and dad were already in the parking lot waiting for her.
Heat and Alastor were waiting for the girl and noticed how late she was coming out of school. Even Sam walked out alone.
"Al, I'm worried. Should we go in for her?" Heart asked her husband for the third time already.
"No darling, I'm sure the girl is fine. She must be talking to someone or getting some work done." The deer demon tried to reassure her even though he was worried secretly as well. Soon enough Alastor spotted his daughter. "Oh look, here she comes now." He then noticed how she was coming out of the building. "Is she running?"
"Running? But why?" Heart wondered as she watched the girl as well.
Soon they saw that boy from the play last year, the one that was a bully to Elena, chasing her. He managed to tackle the girl on the steps and they both fell down to the bottom. Alastor was quick to action as he went into the shadows and zipped over to the two.
Heart gasped in surprise and started to run over as well. "Elena!" She cried out as she ran.
CJ was about to punch the girl when she was swept away by darkness and brought into the arms of her father, who stared at the boy with glowing eyes and a malicious intent. When Elena felt herself in her dad's arms she held onto him tightly by gripping onto his jacket and putting her face in his chest.
Soon Heart arrived and hugged the girl as well. She let go of her father and latched onto her mother now, wrapped herself in her arms. The woman whispered into the girl's ear, saying she was ok and that they had her now.
Alastor looked from his family to the boy, who was still on the ground with his teeth bared. "Now, it's not very gentlemanly to take down a girl and hit her. Some hounds have no manners." The man bent at the waist to look down at CJ. "So, tell me boy, why is it you were attacking my daughter?" He asked as his voice filled with more static and his antlers grew a bit.
"Because that bitch burned me with her stupid powers." CJ snapped,
"Now now, no need for such language." Alastor said. "You seem find to me. Away with you, I'll deal with my daughter myself. She doesn't need to be hurt by the likes of you." The radio demon snarled. "You already did enough."
The hound boy huffed. "Fine…you get away…this time, Gryaznaya krov." The boy growled to Elena, before he walked off to head home.
Alastor watched the boy go and turned to Heart and Elena, "Come, let's go home. I've had enough of this nonsense already."
The woman nodded and carried the girl back to the car. Once Elena was safe in the back the parents looked at her. "We'll talk when we get home ok. Unless you want to tell us what happened now?" Heart asked the girl as she helped buckle her in.
Elena was looking down as her mother spoke but sighed. "He…He pushed me into my cubby after class was over…I was just defending myself." The girl explained.
"That is fine dear, but he said you burned him. Did your powers finally emerge?" Alastor asked as he stood next to Heart. "Because if they did, you have to be more cautious."
"I…I don't know. I felt my hands get warm, but they didn't hurt. My eyes were shut. When he let go of me I saw his jacket was smoking." She told them.
"Then maybe that small sign of fear helped you with your powers trying to come out." Alastor assumed. "If something like this happens again you have to tell me ok? If your powers are starting to emerge then I'll have to do some training with you."
She didn't want to interrupt the things she was doing with Sir Pentious. She wanted to keep it a secret. Plus, they seemed to be making good progress. She couldn't tell her dad. She couldn't tell anyone. She would get stronger without their help if the snake demon was already helping her out so much.
For now, the girl nodded. "Of course, daddy. I'll make sure to let you know."
"Thank you dear. Let's not put your mother under any stress." The deer said as he held her shoulders.
Heart sighed. "Al, I'm only a month along. I'll be fine." She said partially annoyed.
"I know my love; I just worry about you and the new fawn." Alastor told her.
The woman still gave him a smile. "I know." She kissed his cheek. "Now, let's go home and make dinner." She said as she leaned into the car and kissed the girl's head.
"Of course, dear." Alastor agreed and kissed his daughter's head as well before closing her door and getting in the car and heading home.
Another month went by and things were actually going smoothly. Although, the next time Elena saw Pent, she asked him if they could meet every day now. She didn't want to be in school at all and it was obvious that their training was doing something. The only time they didn't meet was the weekend, when her parents still didn't suspect a thing. Her grades were just plummeting without anyone knowing thanks to the school system of hell just not caring. No one knew a thing. The school year would be over before anyone knew it.
Elena didn't seem to get any better in the last month besides her little flames she could shoot out. Pent made the option of switching from doing any fire magic to maybe doing some shadow magic. The young hybrid didn't want to switch just yet, but the snake went along with it despite the annoyance he had with it.
The girl was on the blimp this time as she was looking tired from training that day. It didn't seem like she improved even though she felt she put so much work into today. There had to be something wrong or something missing.
"Pent, is there something that maybe I'm not doing right?" Elena asked the snake demon as he was putting something together in his lab.
The snake sighed and lifted his welding helmet to look at the girl. "I don't have powers like you little girl. I use my brain more than anything but maybe that's your problem. You're thinking too much." He tells her.
"Thinking too much? Hmm. Maybe I'll try that next time." The girl says then looks at the clock that was in the lab. "Oh, I should head back to school. I don't want to be late getting back."
"Yes yes, I'll have the dumb eggs to help you." The snake said and went back to work.
Elena's ears went back. Maybe she had upset the man somehow but she didn't want to push it further as one of the eggboys came up to her and grabbed her hand, telling her to follow. Usually, the snake would say goodbye to her and that they would see each other tomorrow, but Elena noticed that he was a little off today and a little more annoyed. She just thought he was having a bad day and thought nothing of it.
The girl followed the egg boy down the blimp and back over to school. As soon as she said goodbye to them and got through the window, the bell rang. She stayed there a minute or so before walking down the hall, going to the classroom to grab all her belongings, and heading out the door of the school.
(Heart POV)
I noticed that something was very off with Elena. When we would pick her up from school she barely talked about what happened throughout her day. When I asked, she said nothing really exciting happened. She didn't tell me stuff she learned and I never saw her do any homework. It all didn't add up right. Something wasn't right, I could feel it and it wasn't because of my morning sickness either. I just had this natural instinct that something just felt off.
Before we went to pick Elena up, I wanted to talk to Alastor about it, since we were both home today. I wanted to see what he thought about it all and if he noticed. I found him reading in his study, so I joined him on the couch and cuddled up next to him.
"How are you feeling today, my love?" The deer asked me as he started to pet my head, keeping his eyes on his book.
I relaxed at his touch and sighed happily. "I'm better. Luckily Dr. Talon gave me some more medicine to help with my morning sickness so I'm alright for now." I explained.
"That's good to hear." The deer replied as he looked down at me. "Is there something else on your mind my darling? You seem troubled."
"Nail on the head there Al." I say and sigh again, this time confused. "I'm worried about Elena."
"Elena? Why so?" Alastor wondered, finally closing his book, and setting it down on his lap.
I was quiet a moment before I answered. "I noticed lately that she doesn't seem to talk about school that much anymore. She usually is so excited to talk about her day, but lately she doesn't talk about it at all. She used to tell me how her day went without me asking, all the stuff she learned that day in class, but now she doesn't seem to say a thing about it."
Alastor gave a sound of agreement and that he was thinking. "Yes, now that you point that out, I will agree with you dear. I also noticed she hasn't been walking out with her imp friend either." He added.
Nodding, I agreed. "Yes, I noticed that too. Plus, I never see her with homework." I started to feel emotional and tears started to fill my eyes but didn't fall as I sat up more and looked at my husband. "Is it me? Did I do something wrong?" I asked, strained.
Alastor quickly took his book off his lap and placed it on the side table. Then wrapped his arms around me to pull me into his lap. I put my head down against his shoulder. "Shh, darling, no no. Don't think that way. You didn't do anything." He tries to sooth me as he puts a hand on my head and pets my hair as well as my ears. "Honestly, I have noticed these changes as well but was afraid to think about these things. It's not just you. It makes me worried too. Why all of a sudden would she not talk about school? It makes no sense because, as you said, she enjoys school."
I calmed down while in his hold and him petting me was relaxing. "I'm sorry." I whispered.
"Now dear, no reason to be sorry. I know your emotions are easily swayed right now." He says as his other hand was on my side and his thumb rests on my stomach so he starts to move it in circles. "I know you're worried but the new fawn has you all fuddled. I'll look into this ok?"
I nodded and let out a breath of relief. "I know, again I'm sorry. If you have a plan…I will let you see it through. I just want to get to the bottom of it. I just want to know if our daughter is ok." My ears go back to the last part.
"Don't worry about anything, my love. I'll have a shadow go to school tomorrow to spy on her. Hopefully that will get things straightened out." Alastor reassured me.
"Well, just be careful. Ever since the fire incident it seems like her powers might be manifesting." I reminded him.
The deer hummed in agreement, "That is true, but I'll make sure to keep a low profile."
"Thank you Al, that honestly makes me feel a little better." I say and lean up to kiss his cheek.
He chuckles softly and looks down at me. "I'm glad to hear that my little wolf. Don't want you overdoing yourself." He leaned down to kiss my forehead.
I rolled my eyes. "You worry too much. I'm only two months in Al."
"I know. I am your husband. I am allowed to worry about you and our fawns." Alastor says with a small huff.
I giggled. "You're adorable my buck." Soon my phone went off, it was my alarm. I looked at the time and turned the alarm off. "Oh dang, we have to get going so we can pick up Elena from school." I say as I get off his lap. "Come on, let's get going."
"Very well my dear." The deer demon stands up and holds my hand. "Don't worry, we'll get to the bottom of this. If she won't tell us, I'll find out."
"Thank you Al." I smiled and squeezed his hand back in return.
The Radio Demon smiled wider in return before he leaned down and kissed me softly and I kissed him back in return before pulling away. We headed downstairs and got in the car to head to the school. On the drive there part of my mind was working, trying to think of what to do. Why was Elena being so strange? It's not like she hit that rebellious teenager phase yet, at least I hope not. It was just so odd.
Soon we got to the school and we got out of the car once Alastor parked it. We stood in front of the car like always and waited for the bell to ring. The man wrapped one of his arms around my waist and held me close. I leaned against him happily and waited as I heard the bell ring. I watched as the kids soon started pouring out of school. Again I saw Sam walking out by herself and Elena wasn't seen. The imp girl honestly seemed sad and upset as she walked over to where her mom stood waiting. My ears went back a moment as I watched the kids slowly start to lessen. Where was she?
My worriedness was soon taken away as I saw the girl walk out of school. I sighed in relief. The girl was slow today I noticed, but when she spotted us she quickly ran up and hugged us both. It made me happy that deep down I knew that our girl still loved us. I just wish she would be honest. I knew she was just still a kid and learning; we were all that way at one point in our life and still can be, but it made my gears turn in my head.
"Hello Elena, how was school today?" I asked her as we got out of the hug.
"It was ok. Just the same as usual." The girl answered.
I tried to not let my ears go down from that answer, "I see, well hey let's go home and start dinner."
"Sounds like a good plan, my love." Alastor agreed and helped Elena into the car.
I sighed softly and got into the car. Just something felt off. Even when Alastor started driving, it was quiet. Elena didn't say a word, just looking out the window. I reached my hand over and placed it on Alastor's leg, just to reassure myself. He noticed and looked over at me with a small reassuring smile as he took a hand to place on top of mine. This was all so strange and I wanted to get to the bottom of it.
(Third Person POV)
When the next day rolled around, Alastor was going to keep to his plan about having a shadow follow his daughter to school. The radio demon explained everything to his shadow before they left for school. It understood what it needed to do and it needed to be discreet as possible so that Elena wouldn't know it was there. If her powers were starting to peak then he didn't want to be detected by her feeling the shadow magic.
They all got into the car and drove to school. Elena was just humming to the song on the radio, which was to Alastor's taste of course. Heart smiled at hearing her daughter being happy as they drove. When they got to the school they said their goodbyes and the girl ran off into the school. Once she was gone, Shadow appeared from Alastor's feet.
"You remember the plan my friend?" Alastor asked. The shadow nodded. "Good, now be off with you. Come back to me when you find something." Shadow grinned and then disappeared, going into the school.
"Hopefully they'll find something." Heart said with a slightly worried tone.
"Don't worry, this plan will work. Just have to wait and see." Alastor reassured his wife as he wrapped an arm around her. "I took today off for this because if anything happens I'll make sure I can be here to take action."
"Me too. Thank you Al." Heart leaned against him.
"How about we go around town for a little bit? Try to distract ourselves for a bit?" The deer suggested.
That made the woman smile, "As long as we don't go far."
"We won't, promise." He leaned down and kissed her forehead.
The two got into the car and drove off from the school. Shadow was watching over the young girl as she made her way to her classroom. She walked inside, put her backpack in the cubby that had her name on it. She looked around for a moment before going back out of the classroom. Shadow found it odd, so he followed behind as best it could. She walked out of the classroom down the hall to where the bathroom was. The shadow thought that was normal until he saw her go into the supply closet that was next to the bathrooms.
The shadow waited a moment but she didn't come back out. So, it went in. When it looked around…it was empty. He panicked for a second until he saw the window open. He quickly zoomed out the window and looked around from the side of the school. It soon spotted Elena walking away from the school towards the city. It thought she was in danger, but it didn't want to act unless needed.
The deer's familiar continued to follow the girl into an alleyway and soon it spotted a blimp that it knew well, it belonged to Sir. Pentious. It already knew that this wasn't good. A ladder dropped from the blimp as the girl grabbed it and it pulled her up until she was gone inside. Shadow was there for a moment in dumbfound surprise. Elena was going to the snake demon during school time.
He slanted his eyes. There was one thing he needed to look at before he reported it back to its master. It quickly zoomed back to the school. Went into the main office and found an empty computer. Luckily no demon was around as it started to get into the computer system for the school. Just because his master wasn't tech savvy didn't mean it didn't know a thing or two. Plus, it was pretty easy to navigate.
He found Elena's files for the school. Noticing that she has been absent for almost two whole months. He printed out her attendance and then went to her grades. She was failing…every subject. So, the shadow printed out the report card. Quickly it went out of the computer and grabbed the papers from the printer before going off to find its master.
Alastor and Heart were driving around after spending some time at a coffee shop. They stopped at a red light and that is when Shadow appeared to them. "Back so soon my friend? What did you discover?" Alastor asked his familiar.
The apparition gave the papers to Heart. "What are these?" She questioned as she took them. Soon she looked over the papers as Alastor started driving again. She was quiet and her hand covered her mouth. Her eyes could not believe what they were seeing.
"Heart? Heart, what is it?" Alastor asked and soon pulled over to the side of the road. He took the papers off her and looked at them. His eyes soon went wide as well. "What? How can this be possible?"
"I…I don't know." Heart finally said as she tried to regain herself. "It says that she hasn't attended school for the last two months. I don't know how that is possible…we drop her off every day and she is never late."
Alastor nodded, "Her grades are all F's. It's almost the end of the school year…she can't make up for these grades in time before it ends."
"It makes no sense." Heart started to cry. "Is it something we did? Does she hate us?"
Alastor pulled her close to his side and rubbed her back, "No no, Heart, shh, it's ok. I'm sure that isn't the reason."
"Then what!?" The woman screamed. "I don't want our kids to hate us! I don't want them to think we're evil!" Gripping onto her husband she just cried. "I don't want that. I don't want that. I want them to be happy. I want them to be safe." She started to cry harder.
Alastor held Heart as she cried and tried to calm her. "Shh, my wolf, calm down please. I don't want you hurting yourself. We'll get to the bottom of this."
That is when the shadow got its master's attention. Finally trying to finish up what it wanted to tell him. Saying how it saw Elena go up into Sir Pentious's blimp after she got to school. "Say what? That…dirty, little, no good snake!"
Heart looked up at Alastor through tear filled eyes. "What?"
"Elena is with Sir Pentious!" Alastor said angrily. "Apparently she has been leaving school and going with him."
"Sir Pent? But…why?" The wolf questioned as she tried to calm herself.
"I don't know." Alastor's anger spiked as he growled. "But I'm going to find out."
The deer demon started driving again, having shadow show him the way the girl went. He drove past the school and was across from the alleyway the girl went down. He parked the car where the blimp was still sitting in the sky above the city. Alastor looked at it with his eyes glowing red…no one messed with his family.
Finally, the next chapter! I'm sorry for this taking so long. I have been having some burnout and my motivation to write has been less so I apologize. The next chapter is a big one so I'll make sure to get it out soon. Also, please let me know if you want me to write Sir Pent like I did, as if he is actually doing the snake thing. If you guys don't like that i'll fix it and wont do that for future chapters.