Watching her run down the hall, my father was still roaring in my face. Rolling my eyes, he grabbed the sides of my face. His red eyes dyed black, his real face scaring me. Red skin flashed in my vision, flames dancing behind him.  

“Don’t you dare break Ary’s heart!” He warned hotly, my body trembling. “And what is the deal with all of these vampires!  I was eating breakfast and all of these blood suckers landed on my table.” Laughing nervously, he let my face go. Stepping back, the vampires sat behind me rubbing their foreheads. Goblets of blood sparkled in the red flames of Hell, my father shoving me in the direction of Ary.  Bowing my head in shame, he took my shoulders. Clearing his throat, he lifted up my chin. 

“I am going to tell you this once and only once.”  He said gently, his face fading back to normal. “Go after her, or this will fester in your relationship.” Nodding, my boots pounded down the hall after her, calling out for her. Panic gripped my mind, a black vine crunching underneath my boots. Following the vines, a large ball of vines sat in the center of the room.  The walls grew thicker, red lilies blooming on the outside. Crap, she was going into hiding again.

“I am sorry that I didn’t tell you about her.” I apologized, banging on her prison. “She means nothing.” The lillies bloomed even more, dread settling into my head.  The lily decayed, a small hole opening. Her eyes met mine, her face puffy from tears. Guilt gnawed at me, I had made her cry.

“It isn’t that you didn’t tell me that you used to date her, it's that you stopped me from beating her.” She wept softly, the hole closing up. “I am just worried that you still like her. You can toss me aside if you wish, just like everyone else.  The universe already took the only person who loved me, so why not you too.” Tears welled up in my eyes, the painful memories of her childhood ripe in her voice. Every was slamming into her at once, the cap popping off again.

“Ary, I love you damn it!” I promised lovingly, her walls crumbling down. “I won’t leave you ever!  She saved us, that is why I spared her.” Rolling her eyes, she held her knees from her chest. Turning her back towards me, the vines crumbled to dust. Hurt dimmed her eyes, a cold look flashing back at me. My inner voice was screaming at me to fix it now.  

“Like you would know how I am feeling right now.” She retorted bitterly, standing to her feet. “I am going to help the vampires out, and find them a place to hide. Maybe we can talk about this later. It is more than you saving her, it is just that for some reason you chose her over your friends at that moment. I don’t know if I can forgive you right now.” Sighing deeply to herself, she brushed past me.  Standing there, hurt dimmed my eyes.  Why was it wrong for me to do that? Sighing deeply, it all hit me. She stood up for everyone no matter what, and I saved an enemy who tried to kill us all. Way to be an asshole, I yelled at myself.

“Did you figure it out yet?” My father asked irritably, smacking the back of my head. “She spends her entire time protecting everyone else, and you squander it.” A sneer curled on my lips, my temper flaring. Hatred burned in my eyes, his words were always so sharp with me. He was one to talk, always keeping the secret of my mother hidden away from me.

“Because if she completed her spell she would have died.” I blurted out, waving my hands around. “She used that spell on me and it nearly killed me. So yeah, I didn’t want her to die.” Growling to himself, he buried his face into his palm. Scarlet burned my cheeks, my fists clenched tightly. Anxiety danced with rage in my brain, all these emotions making my head hurt.

“Then perhaps tell her that.” He pointed out rudely, my brows furrowing. “It isn’t like she would think you are weak or anything.  She would understand.” Our eyes glared into each other, a throat clearing alerting us. Ary leapt in front of us, her arms crossed. An apologetic smile spread across her face, her eyes twinkling happily. Bowing to my father, she held her hand to her heart. 

“Your father is right.” She agreed with him numbly, standing up straight. “I wouldn’t have been so mad at you. Please come with me, I would like to have a conversation with you.” Following me into the nearest room, she wrapped her arms around my neck. Shoving her off, she was just yelling at me. Pick a freaking emotion, her face falling.  I would not let her win the battle, no stop it. 

“I don’t understand how you can just change emotions like you do, and how to fix it.” I screamed irrationally, losing my mind. I loved Ary, but I felt conflicted at this moment. Sighing deeply, she turned to leave, my father pushing me torwards her. Turning back, her head bowed in shame. Smiling nervously, she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. Fighting back tears, she spun back around to me.  

“I understand.” She wept softly, my heart shattering. “I am so sorry that I am broken beyond repair. I am sorry that my emotions are rollercoasters since I had to kill one of my friends while the other one committed suicide. I am sorry that the woman who raised me never loved me, and I am sorry that I lost my father to cancer. I feel like the whole weight of the world is on my shoulders because that damn hunter’s society hates us being together. On top of that I am carrying the devil’s grandson, and I look like a freak.  I just want to scream every morning when I wake up, just praying to feel okay again.  Apparently, I can’t even have that. Everytime I turn around, another thing is dicking with my life. I wish I never met you!” Sprinting out of the room, sobs wracked her body. Chasing after her, black vines shot in her direction. Skidding to a stop, my heart shattered. She snapped her fingers, and was gone. Uncle Rose popped up behind me, pressing a blue stone into my palm. His kind eyes bore into mine, my lips parting to speak. 

“This will take you to her.” He offered gently, looking away. “She has been through a lot and it is all hitting her now for real. She feels really small right now, but can you blame her? She has to become the Queen of Hell, and has been feeling this way for a while now.” How could I not notice her breaking piece by piece?  Guilt ate at me, the stone glowing. My home faded to a pretty winter scene, snow drifting aimlessly.  Dead trees danced in the icy gusts of wind, her footprints leading the way.  Following them, my breath hitched at the sight of her. Her beauty stood out in the beautiful winter scene, her eyes watching something. Turning my attention, a younger version of her was playing with the man who raised her. The two of them skated across the frozen lake, her younger version smiling and laughing. Walking up to her, tears shimmered in her eyes.  

“I am sorry.” She apologized first, collapsing into my arms. “I am so annoying sometimes, and I bottle things up until they explode again and again. This is my favorite memory with him, we used to come to this park all of the time. He took me skating for the first time this day, and held my hand all day long. Every second he told me that he loved me, and it felt like a warm hug.  That is probably my favorite part about it all. I hate myself for the death of my friends, both of them my fault. I just want stability and a family that loves me. Tragedy and bad luck must be my middle name.” Shaking my head, my lips kissed the top of her head.

“I may not understand you, but I love you.” I stammered nervously, bowing my head in shame for the millionth time today. “I want to be your rock. You have my family, and you made new friends. I know that they don’t replace the ones you lost, but let them in.  No one deserves to be alone, even the best of us feel lonely at times. Will you love me forever, my dear lily?” Chuckling to herself, her real smile met my face. The winter faded away to spring, cherry blossoms danced in the breeze. Sad music played, her father walking towards us. His tired face showed the wear and tear of cancer, a large sweatshirt hiding his gaunt body. A knitted hat sat on the top of his head, her boots pounding towards him. Tears streamed down her cheeks, her arms wrapping around him. Lifting up her chin, his kind eyes gazed into hers. 

“You have grown up so beautifully.” He said tearfully, ruffling her hair. “I wish they never suppressed your powers so you could always love yourself. I was the one who first picked you when you showed up on our step. We couldn’t have a baby, so you were the miracle that we needed.  Stop crying. I am here to check up on you. I am your father after all.” Burying her head into his shoulder, she sobbed violently. This made me want to apologize to my father, the fights we constantly had plaguing my head.

“But I am failing in every single way.” She wailed loudly, holding him tightly. “Everyday I ask what my father would do, and it doesn’t help.” Wiping her tears away, tears flooded from his eyes. They both loved each other, a guitar sitting on his back. Stepping back, two stools appeared. He motioned for her to sit down, a weak smile dancing on her face. My breath hitched, I was going to hear her sweet voice. Angels couldn't sing better than her, my heart fluttering while breaking at the same time. This was such a conflicting feeling.

“Let’s play one song, little button.” He offered sweetly, the melody of “Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas sang from his guitar strings. “Sing the song, I want to hear your voice one last time.” Sitting down, she nodded. Tears were ripe in her voice, the angelic tone making me want to cry. Watching the two make music together made me miss my father, and me realize how lucky I was to have him.  The song ended, her father was fading away. 

“Let go of your anxiety, and let life lead down the path it intends you to go.” He sang in a deep smooth voice, his guitar dropping to the ground. Leaping off of the stool, she clutched the guitar to her chest. Rocking back and forth, my stone glowed. The scene melted back to the castle, the guitar remaining in her arms. Touching her shoulder, she pulled me down. Clutching her close to my chest, gentle snores told me that she was sleeping. Scooping her up, I set her down on the bed. The guitar laid next to her, my father coming in.  

“Did she like talking to her father one last time?” He queried gently, his eyes falling on the guitar next to her. “I hope it gave her a sense of cl-” Rushing over to him, I embraced him tightly. Tears welled up in my eyes, shock widening his eyes. 

“I love you, old man.” I sobbed into his shoulder, him wrapping his arms around mine. “I am so sorry that I was a dick to you for so long. Please never leave me. I promise to be better.” Letting me go, a wide grin lit up his face. His eyes were wet with tears, he hugged me again. Patting the top of my head, his lips parted to speak. 

“I am so sorry for being so hard on you all of the time.” He apologized back, letting me go. “You will make an excellent king. You have learned the lesson of compassion, that one is the hardest one to learn for us devil folk.” Sitting down in the chair next to me, he pulled up a chair. Resting his elbows on his knees, his red velvet suit shimmered in the light. 

“Do you want to learn more about your mother?” He queried honestly, my breath hitching. “I know that you have been asking for your whole life.” Sitting down across from him, he talked about her for what seemed like an eternity. Listening intently, his love story was amazing. Tears flooded from his eyes, him telling me everything. Standing up after a couple of hours, he turned back towards Ary. 

“She is the real deal, and so much like your mother it scares me.” He admitted earnestly, putting his hands in his pockets. “She is headstrong, and won’t listen to reason. Most importantly, she will always fight for the little guys. We will be so lucky to have her for a queen. Your mother told me to tell you one thing. Never let go of your true love, it only happens once. Hold on tight to her, she is an amazing woman. She is the perfect daughter-in-law.  Good night, son.” Walking out of the room, the years of tension dissolving with each step. Crawling into bed next to her, she rolled over.  Her fingers gripped my shirt with tears welling up in her eyes, holding her close to me, she melted into my arms. She was a porcelain doll, beautiful and fragile at the same time. She was always composed on the outside, but broken on the inside. I will always be her rock, and never let her leave my side again.