You'll Be Fine

Ivy’s eyes slid open, the room still in the final remnants of night as she began to perform the rite that had become a staple of every morning. She rose, going to the fire that sought her out and hovered above it before lowering and pressing her forehead against the boy’s, connecting with it.

Goodbye.

Hello.

A final exchange of light and warmth and flames.

A separation of one spirit into two.

Returning from a realm unattainable by others.

Only them.

She took his lips as her own.

A greeting of physical forms.

His arm went around her, pulling and rolling her to her back, overtaking her.

His lips claimed hers. Her throat. Collar bones. The dewy taste of her skin on his tongue.

His hands wandered down her torso, hips, and thighs and back up.

Hunting.

Wanting to take.

Wanting everything.

Her hands took his face and brought it back to hers.

A burning inferno under her fingertips.

Asking.

More

She smiled, violet eyes glowing, wanting the same.

But…

It’s not time

His hands ceased their search as his lips returned to hers.

He would take what was given and nothing more.

And he would wait until then.

When he could take all.

For now, he would separate, rest his head on her chest while her arms wrapped around him.

And listen.

To the beat that was the same rhythm as his.

And she would fall back asleep.

“Ivy. We have to go.”

The girl peeked an eye open, then two, light flooding into them, before looking over into crimson. “I wanna sleep,” she pouted.

“I know.” Zero kissed the rosy pucker and rolled away. “But we can’t hold it off any longer.”

She sighed. It had been so nice being able to wake when she wanted and take her time in getting ready. No longer did they have to travel from place to place, waking at first light and rushing to go. There was still always something to do, but she didn’t have to hurry, and the girl was relishing in the simplicity of it all.

But today they were seeing Maggie, and there was nothing simple about that.

She watched the boy pull on his shirt before abandoning the warmth of the covers and going to the dresser. She opened the drawer and ran her fingers along the neatly folded dresses inside with a sigh. Having so many options was still a novel and delightful experience, and she still felt that twinge of excitement at having the opportunity to choose a different dress every day instead of wearing the same one day in and day out. But on this day, she didn’t give much thought to her choice, quickly settling on a white dress that she had had for some time. There was no point in fretting over which new, lovely dress to wear when the effort would be wasted on going to the witch’s house.

Ivy changed and smoothed down the skirt as arms circled around her waist from behind and lips trailed along her neck.

For a devil, he sure didn’t act like it.

Zero had said they needed to go.

And they did.

But what hurt would it do to put it off a little longer?

Ren and Sakura were already in the kitchen finishing getting breakfast ready when the two exited the room. They wore what they always did when traveling; Ren in all black and Sakura in shorts and a shirt with one sleeve ripped off exposing the feather on her shoulder.

Ivy had seen Sakura in dresses throughout the years now and then, so she had only been slightly surprised when the woman wore one the first day after they had arrived. But it had been an absolute shock to the girl to see Ren in a white, long sleeve shirt and brown pants that same morning. She didn’t realize he could wear anything other than black after having never seen him in anything but. The man had laughed at her reaction and claimed that black was easier to travel in, and that sometimes, old habits die hard.

The demon had acted like she didn’t notice the change, but the fae had seen the way that she snuck glances at the man as he puttered around, figuring out what needed to be tended to after so many years of neglect. She had watched the woman go up to him periodically, her fingers finding the hem of his shirt as she talked and gazed up at him, eyes dreamy and smile teasing, before slinking away while his own eyes followed after her, mesmerized and calculating.

And it continued day after day without fail. Now that Sakura no longer had the task of discovering the girl’s secrets and keeping her safe in an unpredictable world, she could put forth her energy into other endeavors.

Such as tormenting the man.

Setting her traps and relishing as he predictably fell into them.

It was all so silly as it was obvious to Ivy that the demon wanted the angel just as much as he wanted her, so it made no sense why she always stayed just out of reach. But he didn’t seem to mind, almost like he thrived on it. It was such an unusual dynamic, one that Ivy had a difficult time comprehending. But it seemed to work for them, so who was she to question that?

After all, the girl just wanted their happiness.

And it seemed like they were finally finding it.

“We’re gonna make this as quick as we can,” Sakura declared as they finished their meal. “I’m sure that nasty bitch will have a lot to say to you two while we’re gone, so just stick together and ignore her the best you can.” She looked at Ivy, her expression demanding total compliance as she pointed at the girl. “Do... not... cry.”

She looked away and sighed, “It’s hard not to.”

“I know.” The woman softened, unable to push her too hard. “Just try to block her out and think of nice things. Butterflies and daffodils and all that cute shit.”

“I’ll try.” And she would. But as they cleaned their dishes the reality was starting to sink in, and even though she had been the one wanting to go, she didn’t like it one bit.

But such was life, and sometimes you couldn’t avoid the difficult things.

And this was very much one of them.

They set out on the path going into the trees towards the village but turned to cut through them halfway there, no trail to follow other than memory. They would delve deeper as the trees grew thicker, the light from above thinner. It always seemed to take so long, but as the old, dilapidated hut came into view it was like it took no time at all and that it came much too soon. The clomping from the witch’s pigs drifted out from behind the house as they snorted and squealed in their pen.

Sakura turned, pointing at the girl once again. “No crying.”

Ivy nodded and looked down, knowing if she tried to speak then the tears would come.

The woman didn’t hesitate to stalk up and knock on the door, deciding it best to just rip the bandage from the festering wound. The shuffling of feet and clinking of glass met their ears.

“Fuck,” the fox groaned as her face turned towards the sky, eyes shut tight. “She’s still alive.”

The door swung open and the ancient woman who was even smaller than Ivy looked up at them. Her short, white hair had tufts missing revealing the scabs on her scalp, and her face was etched with deep crevices, a permanent scowl on her thin, parched lips. Her eyes were white: complete, endless, void.

“Why are you still alive?” her voice raspy and sour as she sneered at the vixen. “And why is he?”

“One of life’s many great mysteries.” Ren beamed down at the woman, completely unfazed. “How are you, Maggie? I’ve missed you.”

There was a rattling in the witch’s throat. “Don’t start. Why did you bring her back? You were better when she was gone, there was plenty to feed from. I can’t feed from you when you’re like this.” Her head tilted towards Zero, the pitch of her voice raising. “There you are. I’ve been waiting for you. Have you finally come to take me as your bride?”

Sakura and Ivy stared wide eyed at the devil, the lights on but no one home as he stood there not actually looking at anything in particular.

“It’s cruel to keep a lady waiting,” she scolded. “Lucky for you, I’ve turned down all other suitors.”

The demon turned back to Maggie, unable to imagine anything worse than being in the old crone’s favor. She wouldn’t be able to help him while they were gone, but for now she could try to shift the witch’s attention from the devil. “We need you to make something to conceal Ivy’s wings.”

A low rumble followed Maggie as she turned and walked into the cramped hut, the four following behind as they maneuvered around all the different cauldrons, jars, bones, and skins. The place was a mess of items that the witch found imperative to her magic, all of which was carelessly thrown and piled around the small room. “Took you long enough to figure out she’s a fae. If you weren’t so useless and stupid, you would have figured it out years ago. It was obvious she was one of those nasty little things.”

“Since when did you know she was fae?” the demon asked bitterly, already exhausted with the witch’s antics.

“Don’t act like I’m a fool like you, girl. I’ve known since the first time I saw her and heard that shrill, little voice coming through the trees,” she snapped. “All the girl does is sing and cry. Just like the rest of them. Always crying over every little thing. Every fish that dies, every flower that wilts. Why do you think I knew how to suppress her magic? Are you so stupid to think a regular cloak is going to mask her against all those men? It’s not about what they see. It’s about what they hear. You have to silence the fae’s call, and they’re always calling. It’s not so bad in the rural areas where it’s quiet, but when there’s more human men, it gets louder, and then they all come and fight over it. It’s disgusting the way those fae seduce all those men. The most annoying creatures I’ve ever been around.”

“When have you ever been around them?” The fox wasn’t sure whether or not to believe her.

The witch grabbed an over-sized, empty jar from a shelf and handed it to Ren. “When I went to Summerland. I needed some things there, and it was the worst experience of my life. Never again.”

Sakura’s eyes went wide, the answer to what she had sought after for so long at her fingertips. “When did you go to Summerland?!” She bit back her impatience, taking a deep breath before continuing, “How did you get there?”

Maggie thought about it, small grunts escaping her. “A hundred twenty, hundred thirty years ago. You just go through the portal.”

“Where’s the portal?” After years of searching, the answer had been right in front of the woman the entire time, held secret by the old hag. The demon could hardly stifle the urge to tear the witch’s throat out after all she had been through when it all could have been settled from the beginning. But if she did so, then Ivy would never be able to conceal her wings. They certainly could find another witch to procure the enchantment, but that would require that witch knowing what they were concealing, and it wasn’t something that they wanted anyone else to know.

The witch would live.

For now.

“Some village back east.” Maggie poured a light amber liquid into the glass the man held and capped it off. “I’m sure it’s gone by now. They move them around to different villages and small towns every time they steal a man and send him back a shell of what they once were.” She glowered at the man who smiled cheerfully at her. “Don’t look at me like that. You’re better off without that filthy fox. I like you better when she’s gone. When you’re more like your uncle. There’s not a day that passes where I don’t wish that the two of you would have died instead of him. He was the best feeding, but if I had to deal with the two of you, I’d let that man gut me as well.”

“He sure did have it rough,” Ren agreed, tugging at said filthy fox’s ear as her nails buried into her palms. “What would you like this time?”

“The third eye from the Snow Dweller. Make sure it doesn’t die.”

His eyes lit up. “Oh! What’s it for?”

“A man from Munoz wants it, thinks it’ll give him immortality. He’s willing to pay a lot for it.”

He snorted at the absurdity. “It’s a pest’s eye. There’s nothing immortal about it. Why would he think that?”

“Because that’s what I told him.” Her scowl morphed to a sneer. “By the time he realizes it’s useless, he’ll already be dead. These city folk always think there’s something special to pests when all they are is the earth. It would be cheaper for him to eat dirt, and it’d have the same effect.”

The man nodded as the realization washed over him. “Wait. I can just pay you? Coin? Let’s do that instead.”

“No!” Maggie snapped. “I want the eye, or you can take that girl elsewhere. I won’t take your useless Guard coin that all those putrid angels have tainted.”

“It’s all the same coin,” the man grumbled. He didn’t really think it would work, but it had been worth a try. “Fine then. I’ll get you your eye. I want the enchantment done by the time I’m back, though. Don’t just screw around the entire time flirting with Zero.”

“You’re in no position to make demands here. Now go! Leave Zero and take that fox with you. With any luck, the mountains will finish what the den started, and she’ll die out there.”

Ren turned guiding the demon out with his hand on the small of her back as he nodded for the other two to follow. “I’ll meet you in the middle. I’ll leave Zero, but I’m returning with Sakura, dead or alive. And if it’s the former then you’re bringing her back, so get ready for that just in case. Great! See ya soon.” He ushered them out and closed the door behind him.

“That fucking hag,” the demon growled. “She doesn’t want your coin because she wants us to die up there.”

“That’s not true,” the angel corrected. “She only wants you dead. But who cares, that’s nothing new, and she hasn’t succeeded in making that happen yet. It’ll be alright. We’ll get the eye, and Ivy will get the enchantment. Easy.” He looked down at the girl and boy feeling as though he should give them some encouraging words, something to lift their low spirits. He nodded to them. “Well, good luck.” His body spun away from them, and he sauntered off with the jar swinging back and forth in his hand, whistling as he went.

Sakura raised a brow at the man’s retreating form and sighed, not surprised at his blasé attitude. “You two will be fine.” She offered a sympathetic smile. “She can only make you miserable if you allow it. We’ll be back as soon as we can. Snow Dwellers are easy to spot so it shouldn’t take long.” The woman patted the girl’s cheek. “Don’t cry, it’ll only make her live longer. You can do this. Zero’s with you. You’re not alone.”

“Okay,” Ivy agreed softly. “I won’t cry.”

“Good. Now go back in there and do what you need to do.”

The devil and fae watched the woman vanish into the trees, wanting to do the same.

“It’ll be okay, I promise,” Zero insisted, staring into the emptiness past the trees.

The girl nodded.

She didn’t feel okay.

But if Zero said it…

Then she’d believe it.