“Are you sure you want to do this?” The Creature examined the short woman with his bright white eyes, “It may not work.” Her hands grip tightly onto her dark red dress. Staring thoughtfully at the heart-shaped flower on the table. She examines the tall figure in a tattered cloak. Unable to gauge his expression. The only thing that is seen being his bright white eyes. 

Mabel breathes sharply and signs the enchanted contract, “But it might.” 

The creature nods, understanding her choice and slips the flower with a piece of paper into a mason jar, “Prepare the potion as I wrote, and then I’ll come for you in three weeks. Whether your Father lives or dies.” She nods and leaves the creature. Both of them hoping the potion would work.

Aiden woke up with a start in the middle of the night. He thought he heard a noise coming from outside. He finds Mabel at the bottom of the stairs frozen like a caught deer with a spoon in one hand and a bowl of cereal in the other, “I bas hoongy.” She says innocently.

Aiden laughs and joins her downstairs, “I’ll join you.” They both sat at the tiny table in the kitchen in complete silence, “Everything ok?”

She nodded and placed the empty bowl in the sink, “I was hungry. Nothing bad.” She rinsed the dish out quickly, “What about you?”

“I heard you and came to check if you were alright.” She sat back down into a curled position, “If you need to talk you can talk to me.”

“Thanks.” She smiled, “I’m fine for now though.”

“Are you sure?”

“Aiden.” She cooed sweetly, “Are you just trying to get me in your arms again?”

“N-No!” He stuttered. His eyes were wide and his cheeks were a deep blue, almost black, “I-I just! Um. I mean-” He stammered through his explanation of caring about her wellbeing and not wanting to push her so hard. He was trying so hard that he ignored the growing smile on her face. It was only when she began giggling did he stop.

“I’m just teasing you.”

“O-oh.” The blush in his cheeks became lighter, “Sorry…”

“What for?” He didn’t know why. Mabel watched the fidgeting figure and felt a warm sensation come over her. It was nice to be cared about. Even if it was all fake, “Anyway, goodnight, Aiden.” She stood and headed to her room. She felt a pull and was brought into his arms. It was like being wrapped in a warm blanket despite the various gems and stones poking at her, “So you did want me-”

“You know I mean it when I say we can talk.” He caught her off guard. His voice was rarely so serious. He was usually more hesitant and careful with his words.

There was a hesitation in her nod, she refused to completely believe him. She let go and gave him a bright smile, “Of course.” He let her go and waited until she was already in her room to search his bookcase. When he heard that noise it wasn’t her going downstairs for her daily midnight snack. She made a different, louder sound. He pulled out his Grimoire of Daemons and flipped through it, quickly finding the image of an inky cloud of insects with the word Lype next to it. Another thump came from the kitchen window and he could see the group of little Daemons trying to get in. He didn’t worry about them. For now. His usual protection runes would keep them at bay. And they would disappear when she woke up in the morning.

For the time being, he placed a bundle of St. John's Wort on her doorknob to keep her asleep. And stayed up with his Grimoire studying how to get rid of the Daemon literally hovering over her head.