Going back to the family

Bella opened her eyes as the blinding light hit her. Her body was too stiff, unlike her usually flexible body. Her mind was hazy as her body felt too heavy to her.

Her last memory was of the moment when her head demon had stabbed the sword in her heart. She was sure she had died as the blood flowed from her body like a stream.

Then how could she open her eyes now? How could she see the sun rays falling on the ground and how could she feel the touch of the grass under her body? How could she breathe and smell the sweet scent of the flowers around her? She blinked her eyes a few more times as her blurry vision turned clear. 

Her eyes fell in the mother elf who was sitting in front of her, clutching her dress tightly.

"Do demons have an after-death life too," she asked bewildered as she looked at the things around her. "Do their spirits live to the place where they died forever," she confirmed again as mother elf was silent.

Bella was sure this was the place where she fought with the demons last night. How many hopes did she have to live but all ended with a single attack. But never in her dreams had she thought that she would turn into a spirit after being a demon.

"What else can I do as a spirit?" she continued asking questions, as mother elf was not speaking a single word.

Then Bella brought her hand in front of her eyes as she clenched and unclenched her fingers many times to feel them moving. She then plucked a piece of grass to check her capability to touch.

A satisfied expression on her face as she did both things successfully.

Saint Nicholas who was looking at the demon with still a somewhat suspicious gaze, was amazed and amused by her stupid reactions.

She was just like a curious human child, easy to get pleased with, and always curious about things around her. He had never thought that a demon could bring a smile to his face.

He was ready to give another life to the demon just because of Evelyn.

But now when he looked at her behaviour, he had no regrets.

"Bella, Evelyn brought you back to life." spoke saint Nicholas as Evelyn was still gazing Bella silently.

Bella tilted her head as she looked at Evelyn with a complicated gaze and then back at the man who had spoken. As she asked,

"And you are?" 

Saint Nicholas was surprised at her questions as he laughed. "Oh ho ho... My bad! I am Saint Nicholas. '' he introduced patting her head.

Bella bent towards the back to avoid his touch as she contemplated, did she know anyone by name lord Nicholas.

Her eyes widened as she readied that the man was anyone other than, "Santa Claus." she spoke out loud with a gasp.

She could not believe that the one who saved her, a demon, was Santa Claus and mother elf. 

The man whose hands were still in the mid-air laughed, as he retracted his hands.

"That's right. I am Santa Claus."

To say that she was surprised would be an understatement.

Saint Nicholas helping a demon was something never heard of.

"Why did you help me?" she could not help but ask, blinking her big bright eyes.

"Because your eyes are not hollow, you don't have qualities of a demon my child.

If you want you can be a good person." he replied kindly.

"And it is not a favour, but an exchange to save my life. I don't keep beneficence," replied Evelyn folding her hands on her chest and raising her chin.

Saint Nicholas laughed at her behaviour. Wasn't she bawling her eyes out when the demon died, and now looked at her. He just shook her head and looked back at Bella.

"So, my child, what will you do now?" he asked thinking about the options she had now.

"I will go back home," Bella replied tilting her head. 

Like it was obvious, and the most foolish thing to ask.

"Oh you mean, you will live with humans. Why not come with us?" he asked, reluctant to leave a demon among humans.

"No, Alex and Anna are waiting for me," she replied, blinking her eyes. Her face had a determined look.

"Sure, but what would happen when they know about your reality?" asked Nicholas again.

Evelyn bit her lip as she knew why father Nicholas was persuading her. But she also knew that Bella was already part of that family.

"They will not know about it ever," said Bella, her eyes fixed on Saint Nicholas. She was already on an attack stance.

If needed she was ready to put another fight going back.

"Let her go father, she belongs there." Finally, Evelyn spoke, looking at the tension in the air.

"But, alright since I am a day earlier here, why not drop you myself," he said, taking a sigh.

Both Evelyn and Bella knew the matter was not that simple, but they still nodded as there was not any other choice.

"Good, then let's go." he smiled standing up from the ground.

Evelyn and Bella followed as Bella finally came back in her human form. Her skin doesn't even have a sign of scratch. Like she was not hurt, much less doing.

Evelyn gave her a hand in standing up properly as she chanted a spell and all the dried blood gone from her body. Her dress also turned into a new one.

"Saint Nicholas" called Evelyn, finally noticing what the man was wearing.

"Yes, my child," he asked, turning back to both of them.

"Your clothes" even pointed at the red dress which was the signature dress of Santa Claus.

"Oh, ho ho ho" he smiled as he waved his hand and the dress changed into a simple red shirt, with white pants and coat.

"Now let's go" 'and see how a demon would live with humans' he spoke with a smile.