Turning the tables

Chapter 8 - Hush, little pine tree

I began typing away on my computer, working on an assignment my university had told me to have done by the end of my summer retelling the things that I had found and what I was doing with my knowledge of the unknown.
The essay had to be at least 5 pages, 10 at most, but I could easily write all of them in one night if I was so pleased to do so. I was only halfway through the first page when a white, wispy light appeared outside my window. I blinked, and the being was in front of me.

"Hello, dear." The moon demon said in a voice that echoed, a voice that was neither feminine, masculine, or human. I looked at the figure, their face I could only describe as warm and gentle, their body as androgynous as any being could be.
It seemed that they were wearing both a large, flowing dress as well as a suit simultaneously; Although I could clearly see and picture them, I wouldn't be able to properly describe them, so how this god-like demon looked depended on who was looking at them.

"I can tell that you are confused about my nature and my connections with Bill, young one. How lovely it is to see such a curious little creature. " The demon hummed, stretching its arms out to me, their robe-like clothing flowing towards me in a beckoning manner. 

"Come with me, little one, and I shall give you the answers you so desire." They said, and I nodded, walking towards them. I took their hand, immediately feeling a wave of gentle calm wash over me. The figure smiled as we appeared in a sort of dream-like land, the only thing I could see was beige and white, our surroundings looking like what I could only describe as clouds, but at the same time, they clearly weren't.

"Now, you may be wondering what I am. I am the moon demon. I am one of the highest demons, and I uphold the safety of humans. I watch over every crisis and downfall of humanity, seeing all of the time in every universe at the same time. The Past, present and future of every timeline always present in my field of vision. I have watched over every lower-class demon in all of history. Some even call me the mother of all demons." They said calmly. I opened my mouth to speak, but they answered my question even before I answered it.
"My name is Periculosus, and I am not a man nor a woman, for I am not human. My appearance is in the eye of the beholder, as is my voice." The demon sang, and I couldn't help the smile that crossed my lips.

"I am called mother because many enjoy using the term, and find that I am a caring being. Your stereotypes for terms both for men and women do not apply to being such as I, and so 'mother' is a fitting term for anyone." They explained, beckoning me closer. The being looked around as they pulled me into their arms, cradling me with arms that felt more like pure light and clouds than true limbs.
"Bill is trying to wake you. You must not tell him of our encounter, understood? He is not allowed to know." The demon warned.
"Now wake. little one."

I gasped awake, glancing around frantically.
"Pine tree! Come on, away from the window-" Bill said, trying to drag me out of my chair.
"Wha? No, I-" Bill cut me off with a groan and picked me up, rushing down to the main level of the room.
"What are you doing?" I mumbled, finally noticing that the house was shaking.
"Is this an earthquake?" I panicked, trying to push Bill away.
"No, Pine tree just- Close your eyes!"
"What, I-"
"Do you want to live? Close your eyes!" He yelled, panicked. I obeyed and quickly closed my eyes, but still fought to get away as the house shook. He held me to his chest, making sure I didn't open my eyes even though I was pushing and punching at him, yelling at him to let me go. A loud bang was heard from outside the house, as well as shrieking, and I whimpered as I struggled to get away from Bill's hold.

I was terrified and shaking at this point. Another bang and high-pitched screeching could be heard, but above it all, I could hear Bill gently whispering to me, "Don't open your eyes, I'll keep you safe. Just trust me, Pine tree, and they'll leave us be." I felt my mind slow at those words, and I finally gave in, pressing closer to Bill to allow him to hold me.
He immediately held me closer, wrapping his arms tighter around me as the house rocked and shuddered, the loud wailing of what seemed like a siren, though I knew it truly wasn't, raged on outside.

I noticed too late that I started having a panic attack, my breath now quick and never seem like enough. Bill rocked me gently, combing his fingers through my hair.
"It's okay, you'll be okay, Pine tree. I'll keep you safe. They won't hurt you, I promise." He whispered, and I couldn't do anything other than gripping his shirt. The lights flickered and the house groaned. I grit my teeth together as I felt the house move, the lights suddenly not working.

Bill looked around frantically for something, anything, that would calm me down, and his eyes landed on my closet.
"Stay here. " He said, rushing over to my closet despite my pleas for him not to leave me alone, my eyes closed and rendering me defenceless. Though it was only a matter of seconds before I felt him pick me up again, wrapping me in a blanket and handing me a stuffed animal.
"See, sapling? You're okay, you're safe." He muttered, and I was too scared to protest about the ridiculous term of endearment he gave me, as well as the blanket and stuffed animal, although I do admit the items helped quite a bit to calm me down.

Finally, the shaking and wailing seemed to come to a halt, and there were a few minutes of tense silence before Bill sighed, his muscles relaxing as he realized it must be over.
"You can open your eyes now, Dipper." He said tiredly, and I did so, even though there was a tremble in his voice. I looked around the darkroom, my eyes slowly adjusting to the pitch black. I was surprised to see that nothing fell off my shelves, nor was there any damage to anything.

I looked at Bill, my panic still fairly present as I asked, "What the HELL was that?" I asked.
"That, Pine tree, was the moon demon. "
"You mean your mo-"
"No! They are NOT my mother!" He said, his voice akin to a growl. I flinched, and his expression softened.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." He said gently, keeping his tone down.
"You can't trust them. They aren't what they say they are." Bill said seriously. I nodded, frowning. "Can you tell me what happened before you fell asleep?" Bill asked, and I nodded.

"I was working, and then they appeared outside the window and then they just kinda beckoned me to follow them. Then I was in a sort of cloud place, and everything around us was beige and white." I told him, and he muttered something along the line of "So they took you to the dreamscape..." I looked at him as he stared at the floor, the cogs in his mind clearly turning in thought.
"They said I was safe with them..." I mumbled, and Bill's eyes flashed.
"They're lying."
"How do you know?" I asked, Bill's eyes filling with pure, wild rage, growling out his next sentence.

"Because they said the same thing to me."