One World: Many Souls

Chapter 54: Pressured to Speak

Eras's Point of View:

"Come on, please E? We should tell them!"

"Han, you know how I feel about this."

"But we can't keep quiet forever. My dad loves you for you, not your wealth. Besides, it's not like he gets lavish gifts or anything all the time. He's not benefitting from anything other than cutting back on the hours he had to work with the stipend I get from the government so we can spend more time together. And trust me, he spends every moment he can with me to make up for my younger years where he couldn't. There are times where I struggle to get away to have time with you."

Hannah sighed as she looked at the small ring she had on her finger. It wasn't anything fancy. She even kept it on the opposite hand so no one would think anything of the basic ring other than perhaps some costume jewelry to an untrained eye. Hannah lifted her eyes from the ring and directed her intense gaze right at me.

"You know he already suspects it, don't you? So does your dad. I can't listen to your mom or siblings due to their magic type, but I'm sure she does too."

"I know. I know." Rubbing the back of my head with my hand, Hannah grabbed it before I could continue the action. Forcing me to look at her, there was an irritated pout on her face.

"What are you so afraid of? Are you afraid I don't love you?"

"I never have thought of that, I can promise you."

"Do you think your parents will disown you?"

"I don't believe that."

Hannah threw her hands up dramatically. "Then what is it!?"

"I... uh..." I tried to pull back my hand, but Hannah refused to let it go. I could see the tick pulsing on the side of her head as she waited for me to answer. "I just... wanted you to myself a little longer."

"...what?" Hannah was actually startled by that as she sat there beside me on the warm day. It wasn't long before graduation. We had a different lunch break than the others during our final year of school, so it was only Hannah and myself in our normal spot outside to enjoy the sun before going back in and testing our minds.

I was finally able to pull my arm free, but instead of bringing it back to myself, I struggled to put an arm around her shoulders and pull her closer to me. It wasn't often I showed public acts of affection to her, just because I knew how people could be. I hated how they would be all over us, demanding answers they didn't need to know. Sticking their noses exactly where they didn't belong.

"Telling them... they'll be all over us. I just wanted to keep this secret and you to myself just a bit longer. It's not that... I mean... I've known your dad isn't like what I always fear humans to be. And I have to be more willing. Mom used to be one of those humans I was so afraid of. I can't... keep holding that. I know that... especially with the job I want to have one day..."

"That's right... you and Pac want to join your uncle's restaurant business, right?"

"Yeah... so I have to start being nicer to everyone. Giving them a chance." I hid my head behind her's, even as so few people were around to watch us. Whispering in her violet locks, I sighed. "It's harder to curb old habits."

"I know. You've been trying so hard." I felt her hand come up to soft rub her fingers on my back, trying not to let us look like a couple before those few people out there. She knew how I felt about that. "So let's tell your parents, and my dad, okay?"

"...fine."

Later That Day:

"Hi Angel! Hi Sans! Thanks for letting me and Dad come over to dinner today."

"Of course we would, Hannah. You've always been welcome here." My mother kindly greeted them as she hurried around the kitchen with my help. "I hope you don't mind just the small group tonight. Cali and Connie are out at a slumber party, while Joker and Pristi have been waiting for weeks to spend with their aunt and uncle."

"We're just thankful for the company and the food." Tom eagerly noted as he came in. "Anything I or Hannah can help with?"

"Food's almost done, can you set the table?"

It was like a small whirlwind as my parents, Hannah's father, and the two of us sat together. Arial was home as well, but she knew what was going down and purposefully 'claimed' she was working late on a project to give us some privacy. I was thankful for it, at the same time I could have used the optimism my twin had compared to myself.

"So Eras, do you or Hannah have projects upcoming like Arial does?"

"Eh... not really." I shrugged at my mother's question as we first sat down together. "Think it's for one of her elective classes, a safety essay or something for woodworking? Or it might have been about her most recent project and the choices she made for making that piece for her senior project."

"Oh really?" My mother seemed surprised at that as she blinked her eyes at me. "Isn't it a bit late for that? I thought senior projects were assigned after the winter."

I pretended to shrug rather uninterestedly at her to keep up the act. "She didn't tell me that bit. Maybe she was having so much fun making her senior project she forgot the paper that went with it? You'd have to ask her. She didn't say much to me."

"That's... actually rather rare." I was surprised when my mother stood up with a rather worried scowl on her face. "I'll go check on her then, that's not like Arial."

"Wait!" It was Hannah's cry that stopped my mother from moving and my girlfriend quickly scowled at me. "Eras, stop throwing your twin sister under the bus. She has been incredibly kind to give us this chance to talk to you parents and my dad without anyone else around. Don't worry your mother."

I hissed at that. "Han!"

"Hannah?" It was her father that tilted his head at the two of us along with my parents. All of them had narrowed eyes or eye lights. "What are you talking about?"

Hannah and I continued to glare at each other before she took and showed the promise ring I got her a short while ago. The simple band and simple stone she removed from her right hand and moved it to the left. When she put it on the proper digit, the three parents' eyes widened.

But I could already see the scowl in my mother's face still remaining.

"Eras Terians, stop stalling and you tell me what's going on right now or I'm going to assume the worst."

Shit... Mom was angry...

I sighed, and I couldn't keep it back any longer.

"Hannah and I... we've been dating."

"Well it's about damn time you said something."

My father and Tom burst out laughing while my mother still remained irritated over my head while she still stood. The beginning signs of crow's feet in her skin made this scowl all the more worse as she bore into me. I couldn't hold back the surprise as my chair scooting backward from my legs automatically moving before I could think.
"W-wait, what?"

"Honestly Eras, ya made us wait for at least a year before tellin' us? We knew ages ago when ya first liked her n' she liked ya back. Ya weren't really great at hidin' it." Dad winked at me while Mom tried to stop glaring at me. Tom was laughing while they all sat at the table.

"You really knew for that long?" Hannah was actually surprised too as she looked at her father in those moments.

"Yeah, you were beaming when you first came home, honey. Was pretty hard not to notice." Tom struggled not to fall out of his chair as he wiped the tears from his eyes. "I couldn't bear to say anything since you two were really trying to hide it, so we just stayed quiet. I still don't know why. I'm incredibly happy for you that you found someone who cares about you as much as I do. And a family that I know will treat you well too. But uh... tell me..."

Tom took a few precious moments to point out to the small ring on her finger that Hannah deliberately showed off to everyone and all. Hannah watched for a few moments before she turned her gaze to me to talk with a knowing, pointed look.

I sighed. "It's a promise ring, I spent my summer money on it. I plan to get her a proper ring once we get settled into our adult lives."

My mother then returned to the table, sitting down with us as she leaned her head into her hands and looked to us both. "And what is your next steps after this? What's your goal?"

"Pac and I plan to go to the same culinary school as Uncle Papy did. We'll join his business. During school we'll do our best to work at other locations to gather experience so we're not just going in there from family obligations. Uncle Papy has welcomed us to work for him, but we won't be dead weight. I'm currently getting scholarships to help pay for the fees along with what I've saved up."

My father and mother's jaws actually dropped hearing how much I'd already done. Dad's more so as his hit the floor while he still tried to talk. "Have ya already been accepted?"

"Yeah, I got my letter just a couple weeks ago. Impact did too. Since you guys get mail for the college, and I was watching for it, you must not have noticed." Letting all the information I'd hidden up until then spill out, I relayed everything to my parents and Hannah's father. "I managed to get a few already that will cover almost two thirds of my tuition, the rest I can pay for with my savings I'd prepared over the last few years. One of the conditions is that I keep a rank of top twenty of the school, same with Impact. Our names probably helped us get those, but that just gets us in the door. Those conditions were put in place to make sure we worked hard for it."

"Well look at ya, bein' all independent 'n what not." I got a noggie far too quickly from my father in those moments. "Our baby bone grew up so fast."

"That he did." Mom looked like she wanted to roll her eyes, or shake her head at me, but refrained as she then turned to my girlfriend. "And what about you Hannah? What are you currently working on? Or is that a secret?"

"Nope! I can tell you now!" Hannah eagerly pulled out brochures from her bag to spread out onto the table. "I'm still waiting to hear back for my application, but I'm looking to be in the dancing career. It's something I've always wanted to do, and I'm working on scholarships as well. Some of them I'm getting just for being part monster, but others are from my grades."

"Honey… you've thought through this so much already?" Her father appeared quite stunned at his daughter's preparedness.

"Yeah Dad… I want to have a steady life. And I know that Eras and I can do it together. You worked so hard to raise me up and struggled for years. After Mom left… it was so hard on both of us. I never got to see you until Eras and his family helped us out. So I want to do well so you can finally relax a bit. I'd like to run my own dance studio one day, enter local competitions to show what I can do. I don't want to be a coward like her and run away when things didn't go her way or got tough."

That brought a sagging to Tom's shoulders. "Hannah…"

"You can try to sugar coat it, but I heard her thoughts before she left. I know you thought I was sleeping." Hannah was struggling to hold back her tears. She reached for my hand to hold, which I easily held for her. "She was so sick of being tied down. Nothing was going right for her. And… she didn't want us anymore."

"Wait…" A thought came to me while I was sitting there. "I knew she just took off, but… she never sent back money or anything for you, right? No child support money? Isn't she obligated to do that?"

"She would have been…" Tom sighed. "If I or the courts could locate her. And I never had the money for a private detective…"

"Well that most certainly won't do." I could already hear the angry undertone of my mother's voice. Even as she held a somewhat reasonable smile, it was laced with something darker. "Darling? I need to make a phone call. I'll be right back."

"No problem, Precious."

And my mother darted out of the room before any of us could blink. I already knew that look, and my mother was pissed. We all knew the situation of how hard things had been on Hannah and Tom for years, but we didn't know that they weren't even receiving money from the wayward wife.

I probably should have suspected it… but Tom and Hannah kept tight lipped about a lot of those things. Especially with it being dark times for them.

"Um… where's Angel going?"

My father could only shrug at the fellow father. "Knowin' m'wife. She's probably callin' a detective on yer behalf. Sides, laws state that we got until Hannah turns eighteen ta get that money for ya and fer anythin' else shady she might a done back then. We got a couple months. And with Angel headin' his request, probably won't take longer than a few days."

"Wh-so soon?! And why?" I could see Hannah blinking away the dried tears while she squeezed my hand.

"Mom loves helping people, and people close to her especially." I couldn't help but raise an eye brow at my girlfriend. "But you know that, Hannah."

"Its more then that, baby bone." My father sigh from his seat while he tried to keep his eye from glowing. "Yer mom grew up without a lot, she's told ya the stories. Its nothin' ya haven't heard before. But she remembers those days where she didn't have help, raisin' yer aunt on 'er own. She couldn't help a lota people. She scrapped by worse than Tom, but she don't like seein' others struggle like that-"

And like a gust of wind, my mother returned. She sighed before taking a seat at the table. Once she was rejoined with us, she turned her attention to Tom.

"Tom, if I recall, tomorrow is your day off, yes?"

"T-that's right. Why?"

"I've found your ex-wife and she's being brought to the Terians mansion to handle this issue. Would you be able to meet me there tomorrow to handle paperwork in securing the money from Violet?"

"W-fuck! You- you found her already?" Tom couldn't resist rubbing his face harshly at the news. "You're shitting me…"

"Not at all. She was going by an alias in the north, but my personal team of private detectives found her home. She apparently was already going to be pulled in for some other shady business she's been up to. She certainly was doing quite well for herself. She most certainly can spare the money she owes you. It could probably cover almost all of Hannah's college fees. Plus the extra late fee that would be gifted to the Terians family and yourself for wasting the courts time in sending out a high officer to find her after all this time when she was supposed to report directly in her area to the law offices. Says it right in your divorce papers."

I could see it took all the energy in my mother's being not to throw the papers down onto the table. My mother rejoined us before sighing, some of that hostile, evil like energy fading away.

"I'm sorry for the ugly mood you saw me in. I didn't want to pry into your life Tom, but legally, that money belongs to Hannah and you. I apologize for stepping over any boundaries or lines."

Tom, however, was frozen. I could see him there at the table unable to move at all with wide eyes processing the information given to him. Then the moments ticked by, and then… I saw how relived he was. Tears spilled over the edges of his eyes and he tried to hide them behind his hand.
"E-excuse me…"

"Its okay Dad." Hannah latched a hand onto him before he could pull away. She was crying too, the same news hitting her hard. She dared to look back at us and smiled through the tears. "You and your mom and just like each other. Thanks for helping us out of our mess again…"

I honestly wasn't really sure what to say at that moment, or if words were even needed. I scooted my chair closer to her so she could hide her face in my shoulder while she cried silent tears that had been hidden for a long time.

I really wanted to make sure she never cried so hard again…

Witch's Note:

(With the medical bay filled with those recovering and providing another week of healing, Halloween led Shadow back up from their private talks in her personal quarters to meet with some of the others. After making sure he had all the equipment he needed, it was then time to check on the wounded and recovering.)

(River was still knocked out in the back corner from where he'd fallen into existence before their base the week before, sleeping soundly under blankets with partially eaten food and drink when he'd woke. Shady also was not far from him, still resting himself in a similar situation. Only awake long enough for some food before going back out.)

(Mystic Boy, who was waited on hand and foot by that of Sunset, Chaos and Mystic Girl, waited to see if she would wake up. There were a lot of important questions to ask the young woman who'd been in the middle of the mess of their enemy. She had important information to share when she was able.)

Halloween Witch: (Speaking softly to Shadow in the entrance of the medical ward.) I'm not sure what you'll be able to get with Mystic Boy still recovering from some of the more extreme wounds. She's barely been awake for more then a few minutes at a time. But your welcome to try. Just… I would be mindful of what questions you ask her, simply due to the grievous medical state she's in. Certain questions could bring back a lot of those memories that she may not be ready to tackle. Just keep that in mind.

(Hearing off in the distance some firing of weapons that echoed over the complex and laugher, Halloween sighs and put a hand to Shadow's shoulder.)

Halloween Witch: I need to check on that, you know where to find me if you need anything. And the others here have been told to let you grab anything you want or need, if you come across or think of anything else that may help.

(Halloween then takes off in the direction of the weapon bay first, coming across Roland and Oscar who had run up to the command center where Dasansi had been negotiating all day long with a crate in their hands. Sighing, she hurried up after them just as crash could be heard and some yelling.)

Halloween Witch: Gentlemen. (Her tone was low, eyes narrowed at the scene while the three men instantly stopped what they were doing to look at her, a slightly nervous look between them.) While I am incredibly grateful for what your doing, do be mindful of those also in the facility. We have many still barely lucid in the medical ward and those weapons going off could have harmful effects on their mental health as they recover. I understand the need for weapon testing, but at least putting out a time frame for when it would be happening would be preferred. Or some extra precautions to limit the sound into other more… rough areas.

(Looking between them to make sure they understood, she sighed, letting some of the irritation settle from her shoulders.) Now then, Shadow will be doing some recognizance on the enemy soon, so anything the three of you would be willing to provide him prior to his departure would be lovely. Also make sure to get some sleep. I can see the wear on you from all the political dealings you've been doing Dasansi. I'm grateful, and I'll never be able to pay you back for what you're doing. So let me try and help you where I can to this immeasurable amount of debt I've raked up. Go sleep. Okay?

(She watches them for a few more moments before she herself get's back to work on her own screen, reviewing the information she'd already gathered and what had been figured out in time. Ignoring the men around her, she had a lot of her plate that needed to get done.)

All have gathered, yet three still sleep. Still lost to the waves of pain and darkness…

Will they be ready in time? The countdown is coming.

Slowly, slowly, the number dwindle…

Time is running out for what we have to do…

We only have four more weeks to prepare…

Before that attack will come…

And we may all burn…