Chapter Fifty-Two: A Bitter Rebirth

Genovi:

Watching her play with her food, her eyes seemed to never meet mine. Attempting to take a bite of her dinner, the fork lay on top of the plate. Reaching for her hand, she ripped it away. Hurt dimmed my eyes, silent tears streamed down her cheeks. Taking a bite of her mushroom ravioli, she pushed it away. When was she going to eat a proper meal, damn it! Chewing on my lips, my concern for her grew by the day.

"I am not hungry." She uttered simply, playing the piano on the table. "It tastes good but I am not hungry." Rubbing my forehead, she needed to eat at some point. For the past few weeks, she hadn't been eating. The weight loss showed on her face, her black bags had grown darker by the day. Her sweater hung off of her ample chest, her exhausted eyes meeting mine. Something bigger was eating at her, my eyes narrowing in her direction. Not looking at me, she didn't notice when I was shifting my expression to a weak smile.

"May I politely request that you eat that plate of food?" I suggested cautiously, her fingers scratching at the top of her hands. "I noticed that you haven't been eating that much as of late." Sliding the plate over to her, she picked up her fork. Eating every ravioli, she shot me a death glare. Her expression softened, the top of her hands were raw and angry. How did I miss that? Chewing on her lips, she hid her uncovered hand quickly. Did she really not think that I didn't see the bloody mess of her hands?

"I am sorry. I will try harder." She apologized quickly, moving her hands underneath the table. "I have been a little too depressed to eat lately. I can't get out of my funk. Painting isn't helping and I don't know what else to do. Sorry. I ruined the day you had planned for me." Flashing me a sad smile, a deep depression dimmed her eyes. The only thing I desired was for her to be better, her mental stability having crumbled away in seconds.

"Eat with me until it becomes a habit again." I suggested serenely, her wall crumbling down slightly. Nodding once, she showed me her hands. Hiding her eyes with her bangs, there was no need for her to be ashamed of anything. Surprise rounded her eyes the moment I kissed the top of her hand. Finishing up my meal, the waitress took my card. Alarm brightened her eyes, her fingers curling around her knife. The waitress shifted into a ten foot tall demon, red peeked out from his ash gray skin. Screams shattered the peacefulness, everyone else running onto the street. Popping up from her seat, she flipped through the air. Golden energy swirled around her hand, the demon destroying everything in its path. Running towards the streets, my breath hitching at her landing in front of the monster. A fire burned in her eyes, the demon pulling out a giant battle ax from her back. Strange symbols covered the blade, her face paling. Cursing to herself, the golden energy swirled into a matching battle ax. Looking small against her, fear paralyzed me in my spot. Swinging it towards her next, sparks drifted aimlessly through the air with her block. Quivering underneath the sheer power, Celly wasn't strong enough. Charging at her, Celly cried out for me to stop. A large fist smashed me into the crumbling wall, the crack of my ribs shattering the calm before the storm. Coughing up blood, the pop of my left lung scared me. Unable to move, Celly had the demon pinned to the wall. Extending the claws from her hand, her hand punching her way into its chest. Ripping out a black heart, horror widened her eyes as she licked the blood off. Crushing it in her hand, the body decayed to ash. Turning her attention to the shadows, the Dark One stepped out. Licking his lips, life had colored his cheeks. His robes were still as yellow as his teeth, his gaunt features caused fear to rise in me. Sauntering up to her, black energy swirled around him. His shadows formed into a large curved blade, an inky blackness coming over Celly's eyes. Black veins lined her pale skin, her heart straining. What was she doing? Attempting to move, my wounds trapped me to my spot.

"Took some of my blood. How does it taste? Did you know it will permanently alter your DNA?" He gloated gleefully, her body swaying. "I am a touch more potent than any demon you had to hunt down before. Didn't she tell you, Mister Genovi? She used to hunt down all sorts of things for her stepfather's pockets. Twitching in her place, one black stripe formed on her hair. Dread bubbled in my gut, my claws digging into the floor. Every cell in me wanted to help her, a quiet fury raging away in my eyes.

"I won't let it take over." She growled through gritted teeth, hanging her ax over her shoulders. "You are weaker than the best of them." Not taking kindly to her words, he charged at her. Dodging him completely, she swung the ax towards his neck. Ducking in time,copper poisoned my tongue. Wicked laughter rumbled in her throat, blood dripped down her chin. He had hit her inches from her heart, his sword quivered in her chest. Walking towards him on the sword, she punched her way into his chest. Tearing out his heart, horror rounded my eyes as she swallowed it whole. Gulping it down, he howled as his skin began to flake away. Her hair floated up, all of the white turning into a sea of silky onyx waves with golden tips. Grimacing at the taste, the pure insanity of her action haunted me. Wincing in raw agony, silent tears stained her cheeks.

"Purify what rests inside of me, make this evil no more!" She commanded boldly, the burning man grabbing her chin. Yanking her close to him, he tore into her neck. Blood dribbled down her neck, her weapon dropping to the ground. Hanging listlessly off his blade, her eyes barely stayed open.

"Another evil will rise. I have siblings. My brother will ascend to the throne and seek revenge for me." He spat viciously, choking on his own inky blood. "My bite mark won't fade away. He will be able to smell you from a mile away." Choking on her own blood, the black faded from her hair. Decaying to a fiery ash, she collapsed to the torn up floor. The sword dissolved to a muddy sludge. Crawling over to me, she stole my phone. Dialing a number, the cheap plastic shook violently in her hands.

"I need help." She gurgled, holding her neck. "We need help." Dropping the phone, Avalanche's voice begged for her to speak, her hand resting on mine. Mouthing a silent spell, my bones clicked back into place. Taking a deep breath of air, her life force was draining in front of me. Coughing up more blood, a shriveled up heart decayed to ash at my feet. Healing me completely, her eyes closed. Her heartbeat was faint, my bones clicking as muscles groaned into my wolf form. Scooping her onto my back, my wolf eyes saw my crushed up car. Running towards Dr. Benston, I wasn't moving fast enough. Silver bullets whistled by my head, the original werewolf combining with me. Ruby stained my fur, her arms hugging my neck. Tripling my speed, the trees flashed by me. Smokestack appeared next to me, creating a wall of impenetrable smoke. Lord Incubus darted in between the trees, telling me which way to go. Flashing me a broken smile, he didn't want his favorite dreamer dying either. The bullets died down, Benston's home just ahead. Skidding to a stop, Benston ripped all four of us inside. The bullets bounced off the golden dome protecting his home, his arms scooping her up. Petting me on the head, he assured me that everything was going to be okay. Narrowing my eyes, I was a majestic wolf not a damn dog. Unable to change back for the next twenty-four hours, Lord Incubus huffed next to me. Sliding down the wall, tears poured from his eyes. Whining endlessly, he bounced over to me. Smokestack did the same, Avalanche bursting in. Our breath hitched at the white wolf stopping in front of me, his golden eyes boring into my soul. Biting my paw, he made sure to leave a reminder of what happened today. Licking my wound, we all waited with bated breath for the good doctor to come out with good news.

"She will make it but she won't be the same." He warned us after hours having passed, his eyes falling onto me. "Thanks to you she will live. That is the good news. The bad news is that a little bit of darkness was left in her. How can I put this? She is a quarter demon now. She will require a bit of blood to survive. That is where you come in, Genovi. Her mental state has been affected in the worst way. She took on his memories and they can't be great. Would you guys like to sit next to her? I have to make more medicine for her and I need someone to watch her. Two wolves and two idiots are better than nothing." Guiding us to a bright white sterile room, machinery beeped around her. Hopping on top of her, stripes of onyx mixed into her white hair. Stirring awake, a right ruby eye met mine. Reaching for my paw, my tail wagged the moment she kissed the bloody fur. Always the gentle queen, she made sure to confirm my safety.

"I told you I wouldn't die." She coughed with a weak grin, my body shifting back. Everyone but her turned away with scarlet cheeks. Benston tossed in a pair of black sweatpants along with a white t-shirt. Tugging everything on, her fingers, the other's turned around. Climbing on top of her lap, she examined the scarred bite mark on my hand. Snapping her head in Avalanche's direction, a low growl rumbled in her throat. Shrinking back, his ears pinned back. Offering her my neck, she gave the moment a pause.

"You do know that if I bite you, you will become a partial demon as well." She warned me with apprehension in her eyes, her fangs growing over her lips. "I can't do that to y-" Forcing her to mark me, she drank my blood greedily. My vision blurred, the room began to spin. Sweet slumber stole me away.

An inky eyed version of her circled me, fright rounding out my eyes. Leaning forward, her hair fell off of her shoulder. Yanking me to my feet, chills ran up my spine. An evil grin twitched on her lips, her palms rubbing my chest. Disgust crinkled up my nose, this wasn't the wife I knew.

"Do you want me in you? I can be a bit dark." She hissed menacingly, gripping me by the color of my t-shirt. "You will get every single bad memory she had, especially the rape. Do you want to see another man violating her?" Shirking her away, she shrugged her shoulders. Hatred brewed in my life, her doubt of me pissing me off beyond my limit.

"I will if it means her living." I vowed devotedly, watching her pop up behind me. "Celly is my life. I need her in my life." Hopping onto my back, her fangs brushed the nape of my neck. Pushing me to the ground, she wagged her finger slyly. Digging her heel into my chest, her cruel smile never left her face. What the hell was her fucking problem? Get it over with already, damn it!

"Even if it means losing all the sense of peace and serenity you have. Even if it means losing the loving childhood your parents gave you." She taunted with a wicked chuckle, my ribs creaking under her heel. "You aren't ready for what she has gone through. You will still have a sample of your childhood to keep you sane. Boy, oh boy. Her mind is darker than mine." Noticing the shrinking black mind space closing in around me for the first time, she yanked me up. Pinning me to the wall, I couldn't fight back.

"Yes. I vow to protect her with my life." I barked venomously, ready to do anything for her. "Just do it already." Sinking her fangs into my neck, every bad memory of Celly's hit me. Sobbing violently, bruises formed and faded. The memories stopped on the day I marked her as mine, my heart fluttering at the tender moment. All of our good memories drowned out the bad memories, the real Celly cutting her throat. Ruby painted her face, her bright smile breaking through her bloody face. Catching me in her arms, her fingers pressed against my bite mark. Sealing away the bad memories, her silky ivory robes brushing against my skin. How could she be so calm?

"We can't have you experiencing all that." She chirped cheerfully, kissing the mark. "Time to wake up."

Jerking awake, the walls of our home surrounded us. Gauze looked like a necklace around her neck, her eyes averting from mine. White peeked out from underneath her deep v-neck scarlet sweater dress. Gasping at her beauty, she couldn't have looked any prettier. Helping me sit up, my other eye was now ruby. My natural eye color was gone, a stripe of gray floated in front of my face. Permanent fangs hung over my lips, her fangs catching my attention.

"What is going on?" I groaned bitterly, a jolt of pain shocking me. Setting the twins down on their belly, her slender hands pulled my head onto her lap. Playing with each other, her loving gaze bathed me with a fuzzy feeling. Her lips pressed into a thin line, a bit of the light leaving her eyes. Of course the depression had to stick his fingers back into her veins.

"Now I have to deal with his brother. He wasn't lying about how strong he was." She mumbled to herself, the exhaustion wearing on her face. "Now you have the power to help me out. I won't be doing this alone." Setting my head on the floor gently, she rose to her feet. A man with luscious onyx locks stepped into the living room, his cloudy eyes falling on her. A fit of laughter burst from his lips, a thorny crown sat on his head. Dusting off his ruby velvet suit, he sauntered up to her. Playing with her hair, my muscles were still too weak to move. Playing with a piece of her hair, his eyes fell on me. Chills shot up my spine, his black aura taking up the entire space. Who the hell was this monster?

"So you are the two who killed my brother. He looks good on you, my dear." He mused playfully, flashing me a sinful grin. "I kind of want you as my bride." Slapping his hand away, she gripped him by his tie. Jealousy burned in my eyes, one yank had the six foot seven fellow close to her face. Don't be stupid, I thought numbly to myself. Now wasn't the time to be brave, Celly!

"You can rot in Hell before that ever happens." She growled through gritted teeth, pinning him to the wall. "I smell that you only came to visit. Why should I let you live?" Jamming his hand through her chest, he ripped out her heart. Choking on her blood, he traced the black stripes on her heart. Licking the surface, he cocked his head back. Shivering in his grasp, pure terror contorted her features. Shoving it back in, he spun on his heels. Trembling in her spot, she didn't stand a chance in her current state.

"You aren't ready for me to devour you." He teased with a wicked chuckle, throwing her on the floor. "Don't worry. That will heal up with my brother's power. I poisoned him before he went to hunt you down. How could I not seize the opportunity to take the throne. I do have to say, you were damn lucky by becoming a quarter demon. Most people die from that shit. How the hell are you so strong?" My face paled, clammy sweat soaking skin with every step towards me. Celly blocked his path, his face falling on the bleeding symbol on her palm. Protesting audibly, he shook his head. Pressing it to his chest, black ribbons stole him away. Sinking to the floor, inky sludge poured from her demon eye. Well, that couldn't be anything decent.

"Unfortunately, we aren't done with him." She sighed brokenly, flashing me her bright smile. "I know I can do anything with you by my side." Avalanche burst into the room, his fists ready to fight. Celly punched him in the jaw, Avalanche muttering to himself. Pointing to my hand, a goofy grin danced across my lips as she ripped him a new one. She looked so hot when she was mad, my heart fluttering away. How did I get so lucky to have her in my life? Avalanche apologized profusely, his hands waving around. Turning towards me, her real smile lit up her features. Crawling on top of me, her hands cupped my face. Kissing me sensually, something woke up my muscles. Our tongues danced in each other's mouth, her spark had returned. Releasing me from her spell, she had little time to breath as I rolled her underneath me. A tender blush rose to her cheeks. Whatever was coming our way, we could handle it. Please guide us in the right direction, Moonie.