I was pounced on, jolted from sleep by an excited Eli. He was pulling on me and shoving me out of bed. He was already dressed, pushing me to get dressed and ready. When I looked at the time, it was almost noon. They had turned off all my alarms and let me sleep in. I was tired but not that tired.

I put the summoning sigil in my bag along with the drop of blood from Iruma. At some point today I would have a fluffy Kalego and be handing him off to Opera. This would be the payback for what he did behind my back. I was not one to let things go so easily even if it turned out alright. I was his mother; he was not his father.

I dressed casually in a knee length dress. Eating lunch with everyone while Eli when on about what he was most excited to do. Iruma pointed to things listed on the flyer. He Grandpa and Opera we also going. Having this many around put my mind a little more at ease. Something was less likely to happen, and if I was lucky, nothing would happen.

Violin on my back, Grandpa Teleported us to the festival entrance. It was a certain number of tickets to do the rides or play the carnival games. He paid for all the tickets and separated them between Eli and Iruma and I. Next question was, where is Kalego? As the two young boys looked at a map, I stood to the side surveilling the crowd.

Demons of all shapes and sizes. From the more human looking to ones that looked more like monsters. Lights were strung along pathways, but it was too bright out to really see them. Kids ran ahead of their parents laughing as they got in line for a game or one of the sketchy rides. My stomach was turning over and something did not feel right.

"I see you did not back out." Kalego had made it. He worn A black fitted shirt and black pants. The spiked cuffs were still around his wrist. He looked good in this; the teacher's outfit did not do him justice hiding the muscle behind the flowy design.

"I see you kept your word."

"Mommy, look. They have monster truck rides. I want to do that."

I forced a smile. "Sure." He skipped back to Iruma who high fived him.

He leaned into my ear. "You look beautiful."

I flinched a little. "Um, thanks. Monster trucks, what if they tip over? It could happen."

"You worry quite a bit."

"How could you not?"

We followed them to the back of the whole carnival where the monster trucks were driving around. They were turning around in donuts and the tires lifted off the ground. Oh, hell no. It landed back down, and the two circled themselves. There was a race to the other side, people screaming.

"I can't let him get on that. What if he flies out, or bumps his head and gets hurt?"

"Relax, they are charmed to never tip." Opera reassured me, but I was not convinced.

I put a hand to my mouth as Eli and Iruma both boarded one of the trucks. My gut feeling grew worse as the trucks took off. I felt eyes on me. I looked around, not seeing anyone looking at us. Kalego put a hand on my shoulder, a bolt of lightning came out from my crown. His hand was wrapped in it, but he did not flinch.

"Relax, Viola. Everything will be fine."

"Nothing about this is fine. He went straight to the most dangerous thing he could find here. I can't watch, but I must." It felt like ages they were riding. Every spin and turn, the crossings where they almost touched. The trucks finished and backed up to let the riders off.

I grabbed Eli's hand, smiling. "Can we play some of the games? Please?"

"Yeah, I want to win something!" He pumped his fists in the air. I sighed in relief.

Opera leaned over. "If you hover any harder, you might trip over him."

"Something does not feel right. It's not the monster trucks either. It feels like someone is watching us."

"I sense nothing of the sorts. Take a breath and let's enjoy this nice day of fun. Try playing the games with Eli."

Eli was having no luck at winning anything, he was set on getting a teddy bear for his collection. Ring toss, rope climb, ball toss. He was looking defeated as he passed a disc drop game. He did not bother to look in the direction of it. I nudged him towards the simple game of luck.

"Just try, if you land in the middle, it is an instant win. You get three tries."

He sighed. "I have no luck."

"Hmm, I have lots to spear. I got you, that is the luckiest I have ever been in my life." I hugged him, rubbing on him. "Now try."

He gave the man tickets and was given three disks in return. He dropped the first one, it fell in a non-winner slot. I watched the clicks as it fell, the second time. The pegs were in a position to not allow a winner. He dropped the last one, not even bothering to look at the board. I manipulated the sounds of the clicks, guiding it down to the winner slot.

"We have a winner." The guy announced.

Eli turned. "I won? I won. Mommy, did you see that? I won!" He jumped up and down, pointing to the teddy bear.

"See, I knew you could do it."

He turned and handed it to me. "This is for you."

"For me, I thought you wanted this."

"I wanted it for you, not me."

I rubbed my chin. "Well, then I need you to hold on to it for a little bit."

"Why?"

"So, it smells like you. If I ever miss you, I will have it to hold."

He smiled, tilting his head. "Your silly mommy, but okay." He rubbed all over it. He went up to Iruma, holding his hand.

Kalego spoke over my shoulder. "You helped him, didn't you?"

I grinned. "It was the luck of the game."

He smirked. "Yes, all luck as you stared down the disc."

"Honestly, you have no faith in me." I flipped my hair over my shoulder. "Come on, you're not of this yet, there are rides and food to try."

Kalego and I followed behind the others. I joined Eli on some of the milder rides. He squished into me on the scrambler. He kicked his feet, smile beaming on the double seated swings. The feeling in my stomach was not waning, but him having fun eased this. Was it all in my head that there was a danger here?

"Having fun?" Kalego asked.

"Yes." I bit my lip, looking around.

My hand picked up by Eli, and he rubbed it on his face. "I love you. Your hands are so soft. Feel it." He grabbed Kalego's hand, putting it on mine. My face grew hot.

"Eli." Kalego's finger curled in mine, let me die here.

"You are right. Iruma is waiting for you." Eli winked at Kalego before running away.

"Did you set this up?"

"It was all him."

I pressed my lips. "Sure." I tried to let go, but he held firm.

"Not in front of him. He's watching. Has he ever had a father in his life?"

I shook my head. "I never knew the man, and I did not date. Eli has always been my soul focus."

"I am not saying I should be, but it seems it is something he is longing for."

I inhaled sharply but stopped my response. He was not wrong, he asked me before why he never had a dad like all the other kids in homeschool activities. It was usually only a mom's group, but the nanny was the one who took him while I was at work. If Eli has taken a liking to Kalego in that since, who was I to deny him in how he felt.

His feelings were just as valid as my own. I was not interested in such things for so long I never tried when he was old enough to not need me full time. Is this what he wanted or was the one holding my hand whispering in his ear? All the things that had been spoken, what if he liked me? Was I that blind or was I reading it all wrong?

"Maybe. He has asked about his real dad, but how do I explain why he is not around? I cannot trust anyone like that. Not around him."

"There are some you can trust. You just need to find them."

"Sounds like too much work. You know I have not held your hand since you walked me home." I smirked in his direction. "You asked an awful lot of questions. Could it be that you like me?"

"A friend trying to understand a friend."

"Good, I have my heart set on my mystery sender."

While it was not true, I did not want to give the wrong idea. This hand holding was going on a little longer than I had intended, Eli looking back every so often to us then our hands. He was really trying to play match maker, and with my main teacher at that. Nothing could ever happen between us, not until I graduate.

I feared the favoritism card. Even though I was older the opinions of others weighed on me. Kalego nudged me, pointing to the side. He was ready to stop holding my hand as much as I was. Who was I think he was into me?

"Were going to the Ferris wheel. Keep an eye on Eli please." They nodded.

"Mom, take this. Just in case you miss me." I smiled, taking the bear from his hands and petting his head. "Remember this is yours, do not give it to another." Kalego and I both walked away. When we were out of the line of sight he dropped my hand, all suspicions confirmed that he was not into me.

"Are you hungry?"

"I could eat, what is good around here?"

"Not much, but it is a carnival. How about an ogre ear?" That did not sound good at all. "Don't make that face before you know what it is." The smell of sugar and deep-fried bread filled the air around us as we walked up to a line.

Elephant ear, I really need to stop judging the names here. They were more alike to humans than I had thought. He ordered on with a drink and we sat down on a nearby Picnic table. Kalego pushed it towards me.

"You won't have some?"

"Not big on sweets, have your fill and then we can head to the Ferris wheel." I tore a piece off eating the sweet, deep-fried confection.

Have my fill? If I did not know any better this would be considered a date. That was not how things worked here. Dating was not really dating. Most of the time they were paired up to benefit the family and build strength. I was reading too much into this yet again. Friends, he was here as an extra set of eyes on Eli. We had abandoned that.

"Maybe we should get back, leaving Eli like that does not sit well in the pit of my stomach."

"He is fine, he is with the strongest known Demon. Lord Sullivan is more than capable in protecting him from any danger that may come his way."

He was not wrong; the name was feared by many. A place amongst the greats, in the thirteen crowns. He was a living legend. He used to serve Derkila, so how much more powerful was that man? Where did he go in the first place? Figuring out the history of this world was hard. It was taught through a few stories.

If they were anything like the human realm, they would be hiding the darkest parts in sweet words. There must be an accurate recording somewhere. Iruma ran into someone who claimed to know all the knowledge when he gained the seed of beginnings. I could try and start there, but what new information could I give to gain the knowledge he had.

If I start there, I will not have many other places to search. Could I trust the source? I would have to feel this demon out and see for myself. In the meantime, I would need to come up with a list of things this demon might not know. His thirst for knowledge would be to my advantage. I finished off the sweet treat through mindless eating.

My face heated. "We should get back."

"Farris wheel."

"You don't even like getting on rides."

"One ride away from Eli will not hurt."

I rolled my eyes. "Not that I do not want to, things are not feeling right."

"Again, he is with Lord Sullivan."

I sighed; he was right. "One ride, that's the limit."

We stood in line; he leaned over the bars watching the Ferris wheel load and unload people. The line moved fast but the cut happened as soon as we made it to the front. Bench seats held two or three people comfortably. Parents with their kids, or others that appeared to be on a date. I bet people were thinking that of us right now.

The first set of people were off, and we were the first set back on. It moved forward and the bucket seat swayed. The creak of the seat made me think it might break. Carnivals were always sketchy; they built and took down rides where they traveled. There was room for error during the next set up. Amusement parts the same way, did they perform the routine maintenance?

I peered off to the crowd below. Kalego relaxing with his arm spread out over the back of the seat while I was hunched forward. I spotted Opera, and Grandpa next to him. Grandpa handed Eli some money, and then looked over Iruma's shoulder. Eli ran to a cotton candy stand, handing them money for some blue and pink cotton candy.

They were not watching him fully. Another demon was calling out, attracting attention for the mirror maze. Eli looked his direction, walking up to the man. He looked at the sign but shook his head holding a single ticket. Thank the deities he did not have enough. The demon smiled and pointed for him to go inside.

Eli ran inside, I tried calling Grandpa, but he did not pick up. "I have to get Eli." I unlocked the seat.

"Who?"

"Eli, my son." His brow furrowed as he tilted his head. What was wrong with him?

I took of flying out of the seat, leaving it swaying. I landed in front of the mirror maze. "You let a little boy in here unattended. I am going in."

"Tickets first please." I threw the last ten tickets at him, twice the amount needed.

I pushed him out of my way, walking into the dimly lit halls of mirrors. "Eli? Eli, where are you?"

I smacked into a mirror. That was not there a second ago, I was just touching for a second route. My hands met with Mirrors all around me, a solid room. My heart raced, franticly searching for the next corner or pathway. There was nothing.

"Eli! Eli, where are you?" I felt something trying to push in my mind. I pushed back. I saw him, he was holding hands with another demon, I went after him. Hands met with another mirror. "Eli!" I screamed. The mirror cracked. "ELI!" I screamed louder. The mirrors crashed and broke around me, and I was alone. I stepped around the glass to the light at the exit.

He was nowhere in sight; I ran up to the closest people. "Have you seen a little boy, green hair purple eyes. Blue shirt with a bat on the front." They shoot their heads. I repeated this over and over. I shouted it out. My mouth covered, I fought free.

"What are you doing?" Kalego asked. Grandpa, Iruma and Opera behind him.

"Eli went into the mirror maze, someone took him."

"Who is Eli?"

"Don't do this to me. Eli, a little boy, my son. We came here for him."

He shook his head. "I was here for you."

I still held the bear in my hands. "He won this for me."

"You won that yourself. This Eli never existed."

"Iruma, you went on the monster trucks with him."

Iruma rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm sorry Viola, but I do not remember or recall that."

I flipped through my phone's pictures; he was missing in every single one of them. The bear still smells just like him, why was I the only one to remember him? He was there, he's been there. Tears escaped my face.

"But that's how my eardrums burst." I pointed to Opera. "You brought him to the school because he missed me. He shouted and they pop."

"It happened as soon as I removed your earplugs."

I shook my head. "Your wrong."

"I think it's time we head home. My granddaughter must not be feeling well."

"Not you too." I held the bear closer. What could I do to prove this? Why was everyone forgetting about him but me?

"I think the effects of Orobus trauma ability is still in effect. You should rest at home."

"NO!" I stepped back from them all and summoned my familiar to me. People screamed and started to run away. "Eli is missing, he was holding this most of the day."

Yodh spoke in my mind. 'Eli, the little boy at the dinner table.'

"Yes, he was here. He was just kidnapped." He sniffed the bear.

"He smells close to you, but a little different. He must really be yours."

"Unsummon your familiar, you are scaring the general public." Kalego scowled.

"Good, they should be."

Yodh sniffed around, picking up a scent, He circled around a cotton candy stick. 'It stops here.'

"He said it stops here; I did not walk here." I picked up blue cotton candy on a paper stick. "Can you see this."

"Yes. Dropped candy." Kalego rolled his eyes.

Yodh smelled it. "It smells faintly of him."

"Border patrol, unsummon your familiar or we will be forced to take you in." What the actual hell? A white-haired demon with white horns and a mask over his eyes had others behind him. Green jacket that rested off his shoulders, with black pants

I spoke in my mind to him. 'Thank you, you did your best.' He nodded, and I unsummoned him. "A little boy was kidnapped here. His name is Eli, and he is my son. Green hair, purple eyes. Blue shirt with a bat on the front."

"Do you have any pictures."

"That's the weird part, the spots where he was at are suddenly missing and vacant."

"Ma'am, you have no proof."

"Proof…" My mouth dropped, and my hands released the bear.

"Terribly sorry, we will take her home. She was recently under a trauma related ability, and it seems she is still having aftermath feelings about it."

"Lord Sullivan, do so immediately or we will have to press charges for disturbing the peace in a public place."

"Yes, of course." No one believed me, I was made out to be the mentally insane one. Tears flooded my eyes as we teleported home.

I walked to Eli's room. All his things are gone. Every picture he was in was now missing, and he was no longer in any group photos. I was holding an imaginary character in all of them. Had I imagined it, Yodh found the scent, the cotton candy that had been dropped. He was there, I swear on it. Was this a mass cover up? Iruma would not lie about it to me would he?