Empty Gold *hiatus

chapter ten - net retpahc

  in the spring we made a boat

out of feathers, out of bones

we set fire to our homes

walking barefoot in the snow

* * * *

I'm honestly not even sure why I asked Maria to come over.

I just felt compelled to do it.

When the phone vibrated a little in my hand, Fate began laughing like a mad man.

"Oh, Elliott, you're hilarious." He smirked, his eyes deadset on me. When the door opened, my father walked in and looked like nothing happened.

"Morning, honey. Did you eat?" My dad asked.

I kind of just stared at him for a bit. Shouldn't he be able to see Fate? "Yeah, I did. Sure."

Fate popped back up again, the smirk on his face slimming down to a grin. "That's good."

Then, the man who said he was my protector, who saved me from another demon, held up a dagger with symbols of another language inscribed into the hilt.

He gave a final cackle before stabbing my father in the the throat.

"Elli, I'm really tired," my dad started to stumble, down the three steps of stairs to the living room before stopping. "I'm just gonna lay down.." And then he collapsed.

"Fate, what the hell?" I screamed, running to the side of my father, tears already forming down in my eyes.

"Why do you care, Elliott?" He crouched down on the other side of the man who raised me.

"Get away from him, you bastard." I spat, glaring him down.

"Nope." He grinned.

"Please, Fate." I bowed my head, a tear dripping onto my father's shirt.

"Tell me why you care."

"Get away from me, Fate." Another tear.

"Tell me why you care, Elliott." It was like Niagra Falls decided to take a trip to see the inside of my eye sockets, but left through my eye sockets.

"I won't tell someone like you why." I finally looked him in the eye.

"Tell me why you care, Elliott," he clasped his hands around my shoulders. "If you want to know why I want to know, it's because I'm nothing close to human. I lost my humanity over two thousand years ago, okay? I don't have the right to feel anymore. I can't love anyone, I can't be angry at anyone, I can't be sad or depressed about a damn thing. So if you want to know why I care, it's because you're still human. And I feel like it's my job to not just protect you from all the assholes out there after you, but to make sure you're still human at the end of every day, and at the beginning of every day. Alright?"

"Alright." I lowered my head again. "It's because this man is the only family I still have."

Those words never seemed easier to say.

It was like Fate was actually meant to protect me, and however cheesy that sounded, I believed in it. And no, I haven't gone to church since my mother died. I used to believe in God, but ever since this thing of a person, quite literally appeared out of nowhere in my life, I don't know what to believe in.

"I've never felt more alive." I finished my sentence in a breathy mumble, before collapsing onto Fate's chest. He curled his arms around my shaking shoulders, my tears falling onto his chest. Fate slowly started to stand up, and I felt him put his chin on my head. Just then, the door swung open.

When it hit the wall, Fate swung his head around to stare right at Maria. I figured she couldn't see him, but when she clenched her fists and walked right to Fate, I knew something was wrong.

"What the hell did you do to her?" She slapped him. Right there. In front of me, my half-dead dad and, well, Fate just felt it.

"Maria, you can see him?" 

"You can see me?"

Him and I said in complete synergy.

"Why wouldn't I?" She still held a glare in her eyes. "Did you drug her?" Maria turned her attention back to Fate.

"No, he didn't." Speaking for Fate would be better. He might end up killing my best friend.

"You were the one from the lake," he muttered. "did you hear anything strange that night? See anything strange? Elliott maybe, well, cracking her skull open?"

"Well," she crossed her arms. "I think I could smell cigarette smoke. And, no. Why would Elliott crack her skull open?"

"It's complicated. We literally don't even have time to tell the story." Fate took my hand, holding me behind him. "But, I know one thing. We need to leave. Now."

"Where are we going?" Maria asked. I just stayed silent, my throat sore from crying. I didn't bother with my dad, I knew he'd be fine. If Fate didn't take him with, then he knew he'd be safe.

"Elliott's past." He held out his hand to open an 8 foot tall circular portal, holding my own hand with his other. Fate turned back around, squeezed the palm of my hand, and swung me around so I was in his arms, being carried princess style.

"Maria, if you wanna help find out what the hell is going on with Elliott, I suggest jumping in." And then we were off, my best friend now joining in on this chaotic adventure.