Stay here forever

"Huh what did you say?" asked Anna again.

"I am a demon and demons did not die," repeated Bella like a parrot in a mechanical voice.

"Oh, dear! Who said that you are a demon," asked Anna in a cracked voice, her face was looking concerned.

"The one who created me," replied Bella without understanding the reason for her change in behaviour.

Anna took it as her parents. 

"Bella, tell me honestly, have they ever hit you," she asked, holding Bella's hands.

Remembering yesterday night where she was killed by the head demon, she nodded, "many times."

"Oh lord Bella, it's okay. You are safe here. You don't need to be worried about them. We will never let them hurt you anymore. And Bella doesn't believe their words. You are not a demon. You are a very good girl." Anna consoled hugging the girl and rubbing her back.

'Oh my, so that was the reason why Bella is different. Poor girl, she must have suffered a lot.' She felt pity for Bella as her decision to make Alex and Bella a couple strengthened.

"But I am a demon," Bella spoke again, tilting her head and trying to free herself.

But when she got free finally she furrowed her brows. She could not understand why but suddenly she felt empty and cold. She was made of fire, she should not feel cold. Right? Then why…

She hugged Anna again and Anna smiled as she rubbed Bella's back again. This time Bella's lips also twitched, as she felt the warmth that was lacking, got back.

"You are not, ok Bella. Promise me you will not call yourself demon again. Alright?" forced Anna adamantly.

Bella furrowed her brows but nodded. She had to hide her identity as per Santa Claus command anyway. So she was definitely not going to tell anyone that she was a demon.

"Good," Anna nodded satisfied. "Now back to the topic, you know brother Alex had already taken money for two years from you, but what after two years?" asked Anna suggesting her 

Bella tilted her head as she blinked, after what felt like an eternity to Anna who was looking at her expectantly. Bella finally spoke, "pay him with more stones."

"No, you can not," Anna harrumphed.

"I can, I have many," Bella replied bobbing her head up and down like a cute puppy. Anna felt the itch to pat her head but she controlled.

"Because... Brother Alex would not need it anymore," she replied, making a sad face.

"Oh, then what would he need?" asked Bella tilting her face.

"No, he is opening his business. He would not need money then. So he would not need your gold. He will be successful. Then you will have to leave." she added more dramatically to gauge a panicked expression from Bella.

"Then stop his business," Bella spoke in a low voice.

For a second Anna shivered. Rubbing her palms on her hands she covered herself with a shawl as she shook her head, "we can do that, but then brother Alex will be very sad. It will break his heart." she added to emphasize her point.

Bella narrowed her eyes on Anna as her brows furrowed, "but humans can not live without a heart." 

Anna now wanted to facepalm herself. Just how did her brain work, couldn't she see that I was using a metaphor? Oh! What can I expect from my naive Bella!

"I mean… he will be very sad, that he will cry," Anna added with a sad face, her lips downwards and eyes dimmed.

Bella tilted her head as she looked at the sad expression of Anna. Then she mirrored the same expression on Alex's face. Her brows furrowed further as she felt pain. She clutched her hand on her chest as she mumbled, "pain"

Anna nodded, she was jumping in her heart, but maintained her sad expression as she replied, "hmm, he will be in pain."

Bella thought about what Anna was saying. She further felt sadness, but she didn't even know what this feeling was, but she understood that what she was feeling pained her. And it was because they would be in pain.

"We will not close it then," she added innocently.

"Hmmm, then brother Alex will be happy, but he will be rich and will not need a tenant," added Anna raising her brows.

"Tenant?" Bella asked confusingly.

"Hhmm, he would not need you to live here," added Anna in case she had not understood what she was trying to say.

"Then you would have to go," Anna spoke again as Bella turned silent.

Bella nodded, understanding finally that they need her only for money. It made her feel bad again. As her curious eyes dimmed. Anna felt bad for manipulating an innocent soul. But she hardened her heart telling herself that she was doing that for their own good.

"Yes, you have to go." she spoke again looking at the lost puppy face of Bella.

"Where will I go?" asked Bella finally, she did not have any place to go. She had stayed because she wanted to come back to those who had loved her. But if they would not need her anymore then she did not have anywhere to go.

"Well, you can live with someone else." but Bella was not satisfied with the question., shouldn't she ask how she could stay here. Was Bella thinking to leave them? Alex would be more disheartened at that. 

He didn't say so, but as a sister, she knew Alex at the back of her hand, she panicked, so she added hurriedly, "but I think no family will love you as we do. You know we care for you, right?" 

Bella nodded, she didn't get anything she said except the last sentence that they cared for her. But then she turned silent. If they cared for her, why would they ask her to go?

"I have a solution by which you can stay here forever.."