A Broken Promise

Books and Screams

"That was faster than I expected," Father stated as I walked up. The ghosts he had lent me had disappeared, leaving just me and my shadow ghost. "Did you get the book I asked for? In good condition?"

"Right here Father," I replied, pulling out the object. It was a tome of sorts I guess, I couldn't really make out the title. "It was protected by that creepy water dude, just like you said." He had really given me a scare. I hated water with a passion, only really bothering with it to clean myself. Hell I didn't even drink straight water either.

"Good girl. Do you know what's written in this book?"

"No. I can't read normal writing. The words jump all over the place." That had nearly cost me my life a few times. I could read…if it was in a certain style of writing that had no known name. The stupid, rigid uniform of other styles gave me a headache.

"Interesting. So how did you know this was the right book then?"

"I can read to a certain extent. Enough to confirm what I need to know. And plus the water dude just about killed me when I touched the cover." It was only the sense of something being off that had saved my ass. And even so fire didn't work against the bastard. I had to rely on the shadows to fight the guy off.

Dully it crossed my mind I was sounding like a little child trying to please a parent. I never really talked so freely, and with the tone I was using. Normally I kept the dark and dangerous tone people pegged onto me or like I was a highly intelligent villain. I wasn't really. It was only my anger and my goal that kept me focused to use my brain. If I lost my goal I would lose my anger and then I would be the child I never finished being.

Trigon motioned me away as he took the book from my hands. I nodded and walked in the direction the ghosts had taken Dr. Being dragged the other way were some of the leaders I had spared for Father's amusement.

"If you don't need me I shall leave," my shadow ghost said softly. I blinked and then looked around. There was too much light for him to be comfortable.

"Alright go ahead. I'll call you if I need your help again." The shadow nodded and melted away, like always. Shaking my head I kept walking, delighted as whimpers of emotional hurt reached my ears.

The man was kept in a fiery cage, with ghost guards. Not that he would have been doing anything other than crying. I walked up silently, seeing the man's eyes closed tightly as he hugged himself. A smile lit my face. It appeared I had arrived just as his trust was betrayed again.

"Why? Why did you leave me? What did I do wrong? Why?" the man whimpered, seeming to no one. I smiled as I crossed my legs and sat down. His eyes would never open again and judging by the claw marks in the dirt his response was violent. Okay that explained the guards. "Why? Was I not what you wanted? Why did you lie to me? Why? Tell me please!" The tears began falling again and the man's body shook with sobs. My eyes started to sting.

"Raben!" I shook the memory from my head violently and got up to move away. Sure I took delight in the fact that he was feeling the same pain I had. But obviously hearing the cries strengthened that feeling to the point I would probably be left crying too.

"How long will this go on?" Father's voice suddenly boomed out. I jumped to my feet, surprised. He was right next to me, in a smaller form, like a really tale human, and watching the caged doctor.

"The only thing that'll set him free is death," I answered, bitterness in my voice. I had made the man insane. There was no escape from that…unlike me, where I could get my revenge. Or would there be an escape? My thoughts drifted to a boy around my age whom I had met five years ago. He had wanted to become more than just friends with me and it was rather appealing too. But something held me back. Had I been afraid of my trust being stomped on again?

"So until he starves to death then?"

"Yah pretty much." The man was asleep, trapped inside his own head. If he didn't stumble into the walls first and burn he would starve. I personally wanted him to starve because I had experienced that too. Trigon said nothing, watching as the doctor screamed his pain. I winced slightly and shoved a finger in my ear. The pitch hurt.

"I've got another job for you."