I used the spell transmute on my clothes and jewelry to change them to black. In hopes that they would help hide the clunky earpieces. I placed a bow on Kalego like it was a part of his collar. Grandpa transported us to a big city, in front of a busy street. Many tall buildings were all around us. People were looking at us, and it made me uncomfortable.

"Do you know what restaurant that is?"

I looked down. "Do tell."

"The most renowned one in all the netherworld. You must book an appointment a few years in advance to get just one seat."

Grandpa showed us inside, the door man took one look and smiled. "Right this way, Lord Sullivan." Kalego was losing his mind in my arms.

"Quite that, people will think I abuse you."

"You are, this is torture. I am stuck like this instead of my demon form. Yodh is the lucky one here. You know what they will do to me? I go in pet care."

"No, they…"

"Ma'am we can take your pet to our onsite resort."

I turn from his hands. "I need him. Grandpa." I pouted my lip.

"I do hope it is not too much trouble, but my precious granddaughter is rather attached to her pet. She gets protective and angered when he is not around."

"It is per your policy."

"She is exempt."

The man bowed his head. "Of course, my apologies."

I stuck my tongue out as I walked by. "See, I got you."

"Real mature handling." Kalego retorted, Yodh growled at him.

I shrugged. "Cut me a break, it's the first time I've acted like a spoiled brat." Oh, how I liked it.

This makes twice now to sticking my tongue out. I never got snotty or bratty with a soul. Being here and with this man has changed me. I now felt the world under my feet. I was the one to walk on water and turn it into wine. People apologized to me, not the other way around. I liked this treatment, the entitlement. I would not use it all the time, but getting used to it was a must.

In the world of rankings, I was only seven. Kalego was Eight. I was under him, and it did not sit well with me. Poro refused to rank me up because we shared a similar ability. Now, I know he is working for the enemy of the netherworld. I will not receive a rank up for quite some time. I could be Chet if Poro was not such a rank blocker.

We were taken to a privet room to ourselves. I held the menu in front on me and Kalego. The prices of the food were ridiculous. I am sure it will go on Sullivan's tab. If Grandpa owned this building, then the food was technically free. I stared at the names; I had no clue what any of this meant.

Kalego pointed out something. "Get this, it should be to your liking."

"How did… Never mind." I placed the menu down, pointing to what he showed me.

The waiter came back and took our order. Kalego ordering something for himself. It was like he knew this menu in and out.

I narrowed my eyes on him. "Do stalk high end restaurants?"

"Possibly. Appreciate this food, you are dining on Yodh food."

I covered my mouth, chuckling. "Oh, no. You have the wrong idea of me. You are a little foodie, now I know why you have this form." I poked at his sides.

"Hey now." He waved his small arms at my hand.

"What?" I poked him again. "My little fluffy marshmallow likes food. You look like you're starving as a teacher." Grandpa was chuckling.

He crossed his arms. "Well, I am not, food has to taste good for me to eat it."

I pet his head. "Then I will be sure to raise myself to Yodh and take you out to eat sometime. I, myself, am the same way."

The food was brought out for us, and Kalego savored every bite. He was not wrong in his selection for me. It was heaven. If this rank is necessary for delicious food like this all the time, then I would make Yodh happen.

"You were right, this was amazing." I nudge my fork in Kalego's direction.

"I always know best."

I raised my eyebrows. "Really."

"Are you questioning me right now."

Grandpa laughed. "I have not been this amused in a long time. Keep talking like that and I might think you two are flirting."

"We are not." We shouted in unison. We glared at each other.

"How could I date someone like him? He's mean."

"She instigated this form."

I tilted my head. "That's the best comeback you got. Must mean I'm perfect. Good academic student, musically inclined and then some, raised rank to seven in a short amount of time. Do not forget all around pretty." I flicked my hair.

"Too self-centered, I had all that in my days at Babyls too."

"Besides, he's my teacher, and in the current state of things the closest friend I have. I don't want to lose that."

The table got quiet. Grandpa cleared his throat. "Are you not getting along with the others well?" Yodh's eyes softened, he looked like he wanted to say something.

"It's not like that. I have problems, okay? Kalego is the realest one I can talk to. Next to Balam, and possibly Momonoki. I'm good at many things but making friends in not a strong suit I own." I pushed my chair out. "Excuse me, I need to use the ladies room."

"Master." Yodh held a hand up.

I left the table, going somewhere I did not know. My world was caving in; I had become too comfortable around them. I was sharing more than I had ever planned on, and in waves of anxious replies. I passed waiters, and other guests. Downs stairs, looking around.

"Miss, are you lost?" I turned to the waiter.

"Yes, is there a place I can get some air?"

"Right this way."

Guided through the crowd, we stepped outside onto a balcony. "Anything else?"

"No, thank you." I took a wine glass from a tray of a pass by waiter. "Leave the try, I need it. My grandfather will not mind." He said nothing and put the tray down.

A breath of fresh air, even in a city this size. There was no smog, no cars. Demons walked and flew where they wanted to go. Carriages down below of those rich enough to afford one. Then there was me to my thoughts. How do you explain to people your issues with trust? Having so much let down in all relationships starting in childhood, that you could care less if someone saw you as a friend or not.

I told Grandpa I loved him, then I told Kalego he was my closet friend. Each incident more embarrassing than the last. It was like I lost all my pride in being an independent person. I hated to rely on someone else, it meant weakness. That is how I grew up. I stopped being a crybaby and just accepted the hard reality of life.

I strived to prove them wrong, that I was worth something. Where did that get me? I was burned from my old life and put here. Forced to raise myself up once again. Not that I couldn't rise to the challenge. I was not so scared for myself but for Eli. Weakness in any form was deadly. I could show none. I placed down an empty glass taking the second.

I could have been just like them if I let them brain wash me. I could be mean, angry, fake. The doll escaped by cutting the puppet strings and running on wobbling feet. They were wrong to think I would be just like them. They may have thought I owed them because they guided me, but the only thing I truly learned from them was how to be cunning and ruthless.

When I used it against them, I was the bad daughter. The ungrateful one. Being born was not a reason to owe your parents anything. I hated everything about them, I hated that I loved them. The biggest disappointment in my life was not waking up sooner to reality. Tears escaped my face, ones that formed without me realizing.

"I'm such a crybaby." I clacked the glass down, my hand stopped from the third and final glass. "Who do you think you are?" I looked up.

"The waiter informed me you stole this."

I shrugged. "I mean, sort of. Grandpa, uh, Lord Sullivan is upstairs."

"I am aware he is here, but I am not aware of any granddaughter."

I put a hand on my hip. "Well, I am." Time for that get out of jail free card, I called grandpa.

"What happened, where are you?"

"Honestly, I do not know. The waiter is calling me a thief, here, he can tell you." I handed him the phone. "Excuse me, I would like to get back too self-loathing again." I picked up the glass as I heard the yelling over the phone.

"Yes, sir. She is on the ninth floor."

"She went that far!?"

"Yes."

"Help escort her back here."

"Yes, sir." He hung up, handing me the phone. "I can take you…"

"I heard." I downed the drink. "Let's go."

I took my seat, a dessert already placed there. "I apologize, I was lost."

Kalego glared. "So lost you found a wine tray on the ninth floor?"

I shrugged. "Minor detour. What is this for?"

"I have several birthdays to make up for, please enjoy."

"Where is Yodh?"

"He left when you left the table." Why? I frowned, looking down.

Chocolate and wine might not make a good combo. I downed those glasses like it was last role call at a bar. I ate a few bites but was not impressed. It tasted fine, but I was not craving sweets. I spotted the wine bottle, Kalego shaking his head. It was a glaring show showdown.

"You're a little puffin, what will you do."

He shrugged. "Nothing, it's your dignity."

"I lost that as a child."

I took the bottle and poured a tall glass. I stared at my reflection in the red liquid. The first three were already in effect. I sipped on it as I ate the dessert. I did not need friends, I did not need Grandpa, but I wanted those things. I wanted them to be true, I feared the rejection. One I would never recover from.

When I was done, Grandpa teleported us back. He said nothing I had done; he was not mad or yelling at me for disappearing. Was I okay to have acted that way? He should be calling me something. Ungrateful, useless, selfish. Something. Why did it bother me that he said nothing? He walked off like nothing had happened.

"You won't scold me?"

He turned. "What for?"

"I left the table abruptly; I wandered around aimlessly. Took a waiter tray and drank the wine that was intended for me. Any of those reasons?"

"Do you need me to?"

I tilted my head to the side; I had never been asked such a question. "I… I was blatantly disregarding you as an authoritative figure and your goodwill. A bad and ungrateful daughter, I owe you my life, and I ran off. Deplorable, anything?"

"You're crying." I dropped Kalego.

"I know, a real crybaby. It is why I don't have friends."

"Viola, I wanted you here, and you have done nothing but make me proud and help fill my life with love."

"I don't deserve any of it. Never in my entire life was I supposed to have that. I'm a burden."

"Mommy, why are you crying."

"Because I never deserved to have a wonderful and loving anything."

Turning tail, I was out the front door and flying as I bawl my eyes out. I never deserved his kindness; Sullivan would be a better parent than I any second of the day. I was garbage compared to him. I wasn't around Eli enough; I worked all the time. For what? Pride that did not matter. Sullivan took off work for me. He was giving me things I never gave Eli, time.

Worst mother of the year should be passed to me. I flew all the way to the school, sitting. I left Eli there questioning why his mom was sad. I really am the worst. It was my fault we were here and not in the human realm where we belonged. My mouth, my words. He had to be sent here too, it was all my fault.

I will never be able to atone for what I did to us. What he might have gone through while being there. If the demon gods were trying to bless me then they spilled a little too much blessing and now it was a curse. How could I protect us, I knew at some point these forces in this world would try to use him against me.

What was I to do now? The first rank ups were easy for me. Was there really a way to make Yodh? From what I knew, there were few ways to rank up. How did they all become so great? How do I get there? What did I have to prove? I Lowered my head, turning the hearing aids all the way down. The school bell should ring soon.

I have self-sabotaged yet again. How to I apologize for this? Should I just run and not look back? Would I be able to take care of Eli on my own out there? I have seen so little. Where would I even go? How would I make money without Lord Sullivan's help? I was stuck being dependent and I feared I would be stuck like that.

"Found you." I jumped, Balam, what is he doing up here? "Sorry, When Kalego said you flew towards the bell tower I did not think you would be up here." He sat at a distance, and I wiped my face.

"Why did he send you?"

"He was worried about another evil cycle."

"Evil cycle," I rolled my eyes. "As you can see, I am perfectly fine."

"Is something bothering you, you can talk to me. I'm your friend."

I stood. "I do not have friends, if I do then it is someone to see my faults. Someone to let down." I jumped, swooping down just as the bell rang. Landing on top the royal one.

"I thought we were friends."

This again, I turned. "I like you, and I would never wish to see harm on you or anyone else here. But I cannot be anyone's friend. It's bad enough I called Kalego my closest friend." I flew straight up in the sky, he followed.

"And? Why would that not be allowed to you?"

"Those around me will only be let down because of me. How could I put that kind of burden on someone else? Friend and Love are not words in my vocabulary. I tried."

"What…" I dropped down. How annoying, why was he trying so hard? Soon he will see I am garbage just like everyone else. I flew home landing on top of the mansion.

I was bopped on the head with a whip by fluffy Kalego. "About time you came back. You need to apologize to that little boy. He thinks your sad because of him."

"Proof I am only a letdown."

He hit me again, not enough to hurt. "Your reflection of your self is the only let down. Now, as your closest friend, I advise you to talk to him. You may think you do not deserve the love that has been given, but he does." He hit me again. "Now Go."

"Not friends."

He hit me repeatedly. "No take backs."

I swatted the whip away. "Okay, okay." I jumped from the top flipping down to the ground. I looked up sticking my tongue out and walked inside.

Maybe I was on the verge of an evil cycle, I was in some kind of mood. I found Eli in the kitchen eating Ice cream with Opera and sat next to him. He held out his spoon full of ice-cream.

"Here mommy, Ice-cream always makes me feel better." My eyes watered as I took the bite. "Don't be sad mommy, you're the best." I broke. "Mommy did I do something?"

"No, it's… You know how I came here first? Mommy blames herself for what happened. I tried hard to make a better life, and I ruined it."

He tilted his head. "How, I love it here. Iruma is like a big brother. Opera is wonderful and Grandpa is the greatest. We have a perfect family with tons of love. Of course, no love beats yours." He hugged me. "Don't be sad, you're the best mom. Come on let us play outside." He jumped down, tugging my hand.

"Yeah." I wiped my face.

"Eli, go with Opera. I need to talk with your mom for a moment."

"Okay Mr. owl. Tag your it Opera." Eli ran out of the room, Opera chasing him.

"Talk, what happened between leaving the table at lunch and now."

"Can I have a drink first?" He hit me with his whip. "Geeze. Okay."

I started my childhood, and my parents. How I grew up. I gave him my whole life story.

"How could you not feel accomplished? Outside looking in, you rose above them. You made a life, and you filled it with your own happiness. It reflects in Eli; he does not understand how anyone could be sad. That is better than most who repeat the cycle. I get it, having this new emotion with others and the role they have in your life is different.

You are not used to it; I have no doubt how Sullivan acts is the way he feels. As for you coming here, do not blame yourself. Besides, I have gotten to meet you. You're close to my favorite demon even if you were once human. Eli is waiting for you, keep up what you are doing, because it is working."

I nodded. I felt relief, having all of that out on the table. He did not reject me and took it as it was. When I turned, I saw Sullivan peeking around the corner. Kalego pushed me from behind. Past Grandpa, and outside. For a little fluffy marshmallow, he was strong. Eli came up and hugged me and ran back off to a play set.

This was new, when did Grandpa have this put in? Yet another thing he has given. How much would he take from me? Did he not care how awful I had been? He smiled regardless. It was like water under the bridge to him.

"What do you think?" Grandpa asked.

I hugged him tight, burring my face. "If I ever do anything to disappoint you, you have to tell me so I can do better. I must be the best."

He patted my head. "My dear, you never have to be the best, just be you. I can take the moods, just always come back."

I really had a family; it is as Eli said. How did he figure it out before me? Was I that traumatized I could not see it when it was real? Could I trust this house as easily as him? Iruma was happy here, I should be too. I held Kalego, who relaxed in my arms. He looked like he was on the verge of a nap, how could he enjoy this now?

I rubbed my face on him. "Stop that, I was almost asleep."

"Sounds like you're getting to use to this life, wish to be my little pet forever?"

"No, I look forward to changing back. For now, this spot is safest from Opera."

I knew it. There was something between the two. Balam spoke as if they were all best friends. It looks like it runs much deeper than that. Opera was an upper classman to them; I wonder if he was dragging them around doing things. Stories he has yet to tell.