Bonus 2: Resolve, Resolution, and Rest

Bonus 2: Resolve, Resolution, and Rest

Katie

As much as I wished otherwise, leaving Earth was an Ordeal, and Amber was taking my admission that she felt like my mom way too seriously. She helicoptered around as we took a quick trip to the coven to grab my things, and then I spent the next couple hours trying to explain why I didn’t need to bring every last bit to Hell, and, in fact, Kelith was more than capable of feeding and housing me, even being enthusiastic at the prospect.

I understood that she was sad about me leaving, but did she really have to be so annoying about it?

Whatever, it was worth it, just to get the chance to see her reaction to the toys I’d had in my room, and the fact that they were one of the few things I was bringing.

Saying goodbye to the other two was a much different experience. Sophia I didn’t know all that well, and though Lily seemed to think we could geek out together over magic, that’d never come through. Overall, it was awkward, but easy.

Lily, on the other hand, was much more difficult, but thankfully not as much as Amber. The two of us had undeniably gotten closer during our shared vacation in Hell. I’d been forced into the middle of her family drama, and, as much as I’d felt like an outsider listening in on their conversations, I’d grown to like Lily and her grandma.

Starting out, when we’d first left, I’d liked Lily in a different way, but as I learned more about her, was desensitized to how attractive demon women were, and forced her into the ‘older sister’ box, my feelings shifted and now I found myself happy Lily and Amber had found each other, rather than jealous.

I still want my own polycule though...

After a hundred reminders and endless hugs, I finally opened the portal to my new home, a staggering rush of energy falling out of me as the orange oval came into existence a few feet over from where Lily’s had been a week ago.

With one last wave and a sigh, I stepped through, into my new life.

—

Hell was the same, and as I spun around to gather my bearings and find my way to Seriza, I had a hard time pinning down why it was so odd to me that everything was the same – it’d only been a week.

Once I got going, walking through the sparse foliage and settling into my rhythm, however, I figured it out. My time in Hell hadn’t felt real to me, at least not once I got back on Earth, and I’d had a hard time believing it was anything more than a dream even as I was getting ready to move there.

I breathed in the clean air, letting the trickles of afternoon sun cutting down from the bushy treetops settle onto my exposed purple skin, convincing myself that this was real – I could be a demon if I want to, live in a place where that was okay, and there was no way for anyone to stop me, least of all Lily’s aunt.

I stifled a laugh at that thought – that was one part of their relationship that I had no envy for.

My thoughts drifted to the concept of family, and how abstract it was to me. The person most connected to me, at least on Earth, was Lily’s aunt, who had legal guardianship of me. But she wasn’t related to me by blood, and I had little care for what the governments of Earth had to say at this point.

So then, were Lily, Amber, and Kelith my family? Could I really just pick and choose who counted and who didn't?

What a mess...

And that wasn’t even touching the possibility that my biological parents were out there somewhere, if Scarlet hadn’t killed them. Lily and I had talked about that one night before we left Hell, and we found out that unlike her, I’d never wondered about my missing parent(s), happy to follow along with what my caretakers and my older sister told me to do.

Whatever, who cares?

I had better things to do than mulling over the meaning of life. I was in Hell and pointless pondering could wait until I was at least a hundred and fifty years old.

I kept my thoughts worry free until I reached the edge of the city – a shorter walk than it had been last time – and I heard a commotion, people yelling and a small crowd murmuring.

Amongst a gathering of a dozen or so onlookers were a couple stern-looking demons dressed in black robes, and Scarlet.

What the fuck?

As I scampered over to the edge of the voyeurs, my overstuffed backpack bouncing behind me and my suitcase flopping in my hand, the only new context I gained was that she was arguing with the robe-wearers. I approached the friendliest looking person watching, someone on the younger side with pale green skin, and whispered to her, “What’s going on here?”

She startled, relaxing when she peeked back at me, having to look up slightly to match my height, “Apparently she managed to return to Hell, despite being banished, and now the SDL is trying to figure out what to do with her.” Her voice was as intrigued as it was worried.

“Well then I’m calling you Kat,” she declared victoriously.

I swiftly countered, “Meow,” moving my hand in a mock-clawing motion.

Giggles escaped me when she finally backed off, her blush deepening.

I think I already love it here...

—

Of course, I couldn’t flirt with my new plant-y friend forever, and eventually I had to leave, after several reassurances I was okay, and writing down her contact information for when I finally got the Hell version of a phone.

Then, after getting lost a few times, I was finally at Kelith’s apartment, my original destination. She was happy to see me, inviting me in and asking if I was hungry. We hadn’t agreed on a specific time to meet, given the uncertainties that came with traveling across worlds, so there was no reason for her to ask about where I’d been.

Nonetheless, after a few minutes of small talk, she asked, “So what’s wrong?”

I blinked, running my hand over the folded blanket beside me on the couch. “Well...” I took a deep breath, having trouble deciding where to start, “When I went back to Earth and talked with my sister, I found out that the woman that adopted us was Lily’s aunt.”

“Oh.” Kelith’s eyebrows shot up, “I never met her – I try to stay away from the inlaws – but from what I know she’s...” She hesitated, seeing my grimace.

“Yea, she had some issues, but that’s not the important part,” I shook my head, “Apparently she was working on ways to get around her banishment, and when I was traveling into Seriza, I saw her; she was successful.”

Kelith gasped, throwing a hand over her mouth.

“Yea. And the... S-D-L had already found her and...” I shrugged, looking down.

She stood from her chair and crossed the room, sitting back down beside me and wrapping her arms around me. “Shh, it’s okay,” she whispered.

I shook my head, rubbing my face against the soft fabric of her sweater, confused why she was comforting me. I’m fine, what...

And then I realized I was crying and the floodgates opened. I clutched the end of her top, burying my face into it and trying to stifle my sobs.

I hate scarlet, I haven’t believed her crap in years, I’ve seen first-hand all of the ways she deliberately fucked us over, and still...

I gasped for air, trying to calm my shuddering breaths. After a few deep exhales, I was finally calmed enough to peel myself out of Kelith’s embrace and wipe my face with the back of my wrist. Other than lingering sniffles I was ready to talk. “I need to tell Amber but I don’t think I have the energy to portal back,” I said, thinking of the escalating costs to portals made in quick succession.

“Let’s worry about you first – I can have Edith and Zamira deliver a letter for you later,” she took a deep breath, “How are you feeling?”

I puffed out a breath of my own, “Um, it’s just been a lot recently – so much has changed and things have worked out, but... it’s overwhelming,” I let out, leaning back into the plush couch and closing my eyes for a moment.

“Is there anything you need?” Kelith asked, voice soft.

“I just want to move on...” I answered, “If you could help me register for school that would be great, but I’m already thankful you’re letting me stay here.”

“Oh hush,” she stood, shaking her head, “Anything for my cute little granddaughters. Now let’s get you some sweets – that'll cheer you up.”

I laughed, following her into the kitchen. “Speaking of sweets, I met the sweetest dryad earlier today...”

Kelith stopped and turned around, narrowing her eyes at me, “I’ve already given this talk to your sister, but...”

I smiled through the embarrassing lecture, happy to finally have found a place for me.