Chapter 207: Interlude: Scarlet - Sins of the Parents

Looking down at her quaking hands, Scarlet saw the liquid pulling back into her body. "I, umm... N-No, it was, uh, a nightmare. I, heh, I think this is just... sweat. Sorry! I’m sorry, guys... Sorry."

Rachel was brushed aside by her mother as Molly moved past her to sit on her bed and pull her into a hug, making Scarlet’s chest flutter, heat rising in her throat.

"Hey, it’s okay, Sweetie. You’re safe. You’re not alone; we’re here. It’s okay..."

Blood leaked out of her eyes as she sucked in her bottom lip, fangs cutting into her lips as she began to cry. Coral dove off Rachel’s head to cling to her neck next, and Rachel moved to sit on her bed, holding her hand.

She couldn’t get any words out, she couldn’t stop, and before she knew what was happening, Molly was cuddling up next to her on the bed, laying her down to rest with her. Her warm embrace reminded her of her mother, comforting her when she’d had nightmares as a little girl, redoubling her whimpers and tears.

Tonight, she was burying her father—her father whom she’d killed—her father who had turned her and Veronica into monsters. When she woke up, she had to face this new reality, and it hurt in ways she couldn’t explain, so she cried until she couldn’t anymore.

After a time processing her lost family and the new one comforting her, Scarlet’s eyes grew too heavy, and the waves of emotions pulled her into a dreamless sleep. Deeper, deeper, and deeper still, she sank. There was something singing, a hum within the abyss, attempting to reach her...

Scarlet jumped, her world snapping back into focus. Alexa dropped onto the couch next to her as Scarlet’s eyes fluttered awake, the blonde startling her out of her internal spiral into whatever dream she’d entered.

The whole evening had been a bit of a fever dream since the nightmare the night before. Now they were on a private plane, going to her father’s funeral, the windows painted over to prevent any light from touching her. Everything was happening so fast.

"You okay?"

"No, I’m fine!" Scarlet lied, showing a weak smile while trying not to sink her fangs into her lips; Selvaria had mentioned it was a dead giveaway that she was panicking inside. "Is Rachel still in the back cabin... Yeah, she is," she answered herself as she saw the door to the private jet’s bed area still closed.

Fiona hovered over to sit on the table beside them, using a tiny throne Maria had bought her the previous night. "It must be tough being Rachel. What’s she talking to the general and President about again?"

"Yeah..." Scarlet mumbled, watching the 20-year-old woman’s green hair turn white again as she quit channeling her Wind Magic. "Rachel is carrying a lot."

Thankfully, Anthony pulled the conversation away from her, sitting a few chairs away on a tablet as he answered the fairy. "They’re discussing the meeting with the Moon Bunny and Tintreach. Apparently, they’re using Mei’s information regarding people’s movements in the higher dimensions to map out potential problems, and he’s concerned about what she said regarding the Montana Crystal."

"Right," Alexa nodded. "Something about a big goddess leaving it alone or sensing a big bad there? Honestly, it feels like everything is fine when we’re walking around the streets, but then I flip on the news and see crap happening all over the globe... Kind of crazy."

A lump of blood formed in Scarlet’s throat, making her internally curse at her stupid body for how it responded. Her parents had had a significant effect on all the conflicts around the world. Why did they do it? She still didn’t understand why it had to be her family out of the billions of people on the planet. How could she have been so blind?

The pressure looping around her chest dissipated as a warm arm pulled her in, and a smile lifted her eyes to the wonderful and caring Korean mom who sat on her opposite side. Molly’s gentle touch had been there to comfort her throughout the night and evening; she didn’t have to say anything because her presence was enough to keep Scarlet from breaking down.

She let the conversation between Anthony, Alexa, and Fiona fade into the background as Maria, Nia, and Selvaria joined in; Scarlet didn’t want to hear it. Letting her mind wander through the magical week she’d had with Rachel’s family, she watched the leviathan passively play with the hellion of a rabbit blob as the orange girl tried to poke and taunt her puffy-faced superior.

It didn’t take long for her gaze to drift to the back room, and she snuggled closer to Molly as goosebumps ran down her spine. The woman pulled her in tighter, shifting to draw a blanket around both of them, not that it would help her since she had no body heat. Still, it felt warm to her since it was like the mother was trying to isolate her from the rest of the world.

Filtering out the walls, she saw Jeanne and Rachel resting on the bed, chatting and laughing on a satellite phone while discussing plots happening around the world with prominent people. The sounds of the airplane drowned out their voices from her sensitive hearing; she wanted to know what they found so funny. She could use something that made her laugh.

Her thoughts were stuck on her encounter with a girl she used to know. Now, she had to wonder if she had really known anyone throughout her life, making her close her eyes and rest her head against Molly’s chest to hear the soft beats of her heart.

I’m so useless. Veronica’s right... No, she’s Twilight now. Ten thousand nights she struggled in that ocean after what Mom and Dad did to her, fighting the influence of whatever sleeps below the Blood Sea... She made that house to have a safe place, and I just moved right in. I bet she was thinking, ’What’s with this girl that just stole my house and is sleeping in my bed? She’s so weak...’

Swallowing the blood in her throat, Scarlet puffed out a shaky breath, unsuccessfully trying to stop her fangs from sinking into her bottom lip as she pulled the blanket over her head. The others paused in their conversation, but Molly wrapped the blanket tighter around her and shifted her weight to hold her better. Shame bit into her as the Korean woman motioned for them to leave her alone; she didn’t want to talk to anyone right now, but she still felt so useless.

I just keep holding onto Rachel’s tail as she solves all my problems, and now her mom is even helping because she’s being stretched too thin... I’m a burden. Fiona can’t get a hold of her family, but she’s laughing and having fun with people... I guess I just suck at dealing with stress... Stupid. Is this what it’d feel like to be the daughter of Hitler? It... kind of feels like it. Why can’t I do anything but hide and cry?

She fought the blood from leaving her eyes; she’d cried enough.