Scene XII - Bloody Thoughts.

Takes place in: Month I - Day 14.

These two weeks had taught Rosie something very important about this family.

Husband and wife were always together.

It was very rare. VERY rare, that one of the women was by their lonesome, same with the men. This had to do with their love for each other, true. But as Rosie had been told; not even the adults had much time to enjoy themselves without being screwed over while the curse had been active. They NEEDED to be in a group, even in the safest places.

So of course Francisco had, gently and with much respect, told Rosie he was going to be there for his wife.

Hadn't asked.

He told her.

Rosie had no problem with that to be perfectly honest, though the directness had taken her back somewhat. On the other hand, the way this little session, and many others, would be conducted was not like it should be. So what was another difference added to the mix?

"What you speak of is little more than a very focused level of psychopathic tendencies."

Rosie would also admit that having Francisco holding his wife probably made this a bit better. Having an old styled phone on speaker to conduct this kind of session was already worse than having the person in front of you.

With Anastasia unable to return until her studies were done, or at least until she took some time off, which Rosie knew would take far longer than the Overlord wanted it to, this was the best path to take. Anastasia had a few hours free here and there, so any 'visit' would be done in Rosie's office so no one could interrupt or spy on them. It was impersonal without Anastasia present, but she was no less dedicated to her vocation just because she wasn't here in person.

She was also just as brutally direct and scathing with her words.

"In fact you are a very highly functioning psychopath." Some'd call it blunt, but in Hell this was just the norm. Anastasia didn't want to mince words. "You can form bonds despite your mental state, and you respect the rules. You have normal human emotions unaffected by your mental malady and, in general, you will, at worst, look like a very aggressive woman to the outside world, nothing else."

"Well." Fernando began with a half grin. "She IS a small ball of anger."

"Shut up." Valentina growled. Like her sister Rocio, Valentina had taken worse to English than some members of her family. Her husband was just slightly more fluid. Valentina still managed much better than her sister, but only if she spoke slowly. "So… what… what does it mean?"

"To be perfectly blunt?" Anastasia's words came through the moment her pencil stopped loudly writing on the other end. "You are more like a sleeper agent, if you pardon the mental imagery. Valentina; you are an incredibly violent woman that needs the sight of blood and to cause pain, perhaps even the need to outright kill is there. You are a hair trigger away from murdering someone and, much like you saw when a demon, a Sinner, attacked you, specific situations will turn you into a murderous, sadistic creature. This is not your fault. This has literally been bred into you. It is very likely that your daughter does not suffer from this same malady, but your son, from what you have told me, certainly has the same problem."

"Genetic memory is largely a myth in humans. Some have it, on Earth and Hell, likely in Heaven. It is a design from creation that has to do with base instincts and other topics that aren't really relevant right now." Anastasia went on. Rosie had forgotten how much her friend could ramble with certain topics. She was a good and dutiful woman, but whenever Rosie was present her professionality… slipped. "With The Order this is not exactly up to 'natural causes' and 'genetic anomalies'. Your level of mental derangement is geared towards one particular focus: Killing anything that is considered tainted by Hell's influence. That is to say, it would be the case if you had been properly trained."

Valentina tried to open her mouth to ask a question, then failed. Fernando was the same, but only because he saw his wife struggle. It was her question to make, not his. Rosie would've helped, but he shared Fernando's view on this: Valentina had to find the words herself. This was HER session, not theirs.

"What… does that… mean… for me?"

And if the words were simply a repeat of her last question, it was still valid.

"I… did not want… to kill… others. I do not want… to kill Rosie." But Valentina clearly had more to say, so she did. "Why… is it?"

"Because they are not a danger. You weren't 'activated', in a sense. You do not have the training needed to become little more than a berserker." Anastasia was quick to inform everyone in the room. "You grew up as a person. A normal, functioning person. But if you ever got into a fight or flight situation with a demon of any kind? If, say, Rosie attacked you with the intent to kill, even if it wasn't her own desire or choice? Even if you knew that she was being controlled?" Rosie found herself uncomfortable as Anastasia kept talking. "One of the two would die. You, Anastasia, are a powder keg. Your mind is a literal weapon that has been badly retooled for civilian life."

There was a moment of silence before Franciso brought up the obvious. "You seem to know much about this."

"The Order is a common topic in Hell for those with enough curiosity, time to burn and a studious mind. Although I'd be remiss on my side if I didn't admit to also having suffered from highly aggressive and mentally unhinged behavior in my past. That is not something I can cure, not fully, and it is very much reminiscent of the constant and self inflicted damage The Order suffers from." Rosie hummed to herself as she heard her friend's explanation. So THAT is why she had been so enraptured with those works. Most demons, mostly hellborn, held curiosity when it came to The Order. Anastasia had been engrossed after… Alan. "Based on what I know about them and regular human, and even demon, psychology, what I said is the most likely explanation. This, in turn, means you were right about your own self assessment, Valentina."

The short woman let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding. "I am a… danger. Right? To… everyone."

"No matter what you do. I am sorry." Anastasia did sound genuinely ashamed through the phone. Her desire was to help people like Valentina. But what help could someone be when the problem was as old as humanity itself and could only be solved by the person ceasing to exist? "You will need violence, or death, of some kind. Regularly. General work will likely serve as a stopgap, but only for a short while. Fishing was likely a good way for you to curb all your needs in a very balanced manner. If at any point you lack the satisfaction of spilling blood for too long…"

"..." The short woman nodded, then got up from her seat. "I… thank you. I only… wish that… I wouldn't like… all of… this."

Rosie could hear Anastasia's discomfort through the line. Valentina didn't know just how close it hit home. "We are who we are. Even with time, we may not solve all problems. But with determination, and those we care at our side, we may ease the burden."

While Valentina had nothing else to say, her husband got up and embraced the woman, giving a nod to Rosie. "Thanks for having us today. And thanks for… helping. All that aids us in understanding this is another step."

"Of course." Anastasia called from the other side of the line as the pair left. When the door closed Rosie heard a deep, tired sigh from the other side. "Rosie?"

"Yes, dear?" The Overlord had a level of apprehension at Anastasia's tone.

"I'll be there in two months. Three tops." There was the sound of Anastasia slumping down. This had hit close to home. "I think you need more help than my research needs me. I have few patients that need help or CAN be helped. All I have left is stubbornness until I get some aid with this damn project."

Rosie felt conflicted. On one hand she wanted Anastasia here. The family required help and she wanted to be in their good graces. On the other hand, she did not want to push her friend. Neither woman would bring it up again, but Anastasia had resented Rosie's treatment of Evelinde. It hadn't been unnatural by Hell's standards, but Anastasia had come clean about what she thought of it the day before this talk.

There were many amends to make. But right now the need to help those worse off in the family came first. That it helped Rosie could be taken as just a bonus.

"I thank you, Anastasia."

"Don't, not yet." Anastasia was heard sitting back up again. "That woman is in danger. She IS a danger. I recommend a visit every day or every two days at least. We need to keep an eye on her. Additionally, I want to have a talk with everyone as soon as possible. If they all have thoughts similar to hers…"

The left went unsaid. It wasn't needed. Rosie couldn't agree more. This had been a learning experience. And she would gladly admit: There were things said today that even she found worthy of being afraid of.