—–
The trio quickly sat down near me, Lucifer sat behind me and Partner and Emeraldine to the left and right. I told them I wanted to have some time alone by myself, but they ended getting in here and following me around.
“Master, why are you crying?” Asked Partner while getting saddened herself.
“I-It’s nothing…” I said, quickly cleaning the tears from my eyes. It felt surreal to even be able to cry while I was a ghost… I suppose I’ve become something more than one, but I am still dead.
“Are you sad about your brother?” Asked Emeraldine. “W-We’ll make sure to find him, please, have faith in us as well… I promise you we’ll find him.”
Emeraldine looked at me her almost angelic eyes, as she held my hands tightly. She was so warm that it comforted me ever so slightly.
“It’s okay… I know you’ll help me. I am just silly. I was just… crying because I am silly.” I sighed.
“I am sure that his state is troubling your heart quite a lot, Maria. However… I know there might be something else troubling you. Can you tell us?” Lucifer asked respectfully, petting my shoulders.
“I… Well, I was just thinking about a few things… I am just frustrated I don’t remember a single thing about my family… Not even their faces. I know the tragedy that happened to my parents but even then… I lack the knowledge of why I loved them so much for this resentment and madness to continue to grow inside of my soul the more I learn about the injustices they went through.” I said.
“It’s just… there’s this emptiness that it is so hard to get out of me, it keeps looming over my life, each time I try to relax, this feeling comes back… I… It must be related to the true nature of my existence. Ghosts are like this, we keep our souls in the mortal world by cursing ourselves, our anger, resentment, and fury continues to boil almost endlessly, as we evolve, this curse evolves with us. I am forever a cursed being… I might never stop feeling this empty, I might… never stop feeling so terrible with myself.”
“Master… I never imagined you were feeling this way…” Partner said.
“Have you… been hiding this from us?” Asked Emeraldine.
“I didn’t wanted to worry you about my personal problems… After all, it’s just all drama that shouldn’t even be bothering anybody of you… They’re all my problems, I know I should simply carry them with myself.” I sighed, looking at my own foot.
“What? No! You shouldn’t do that…!” Said Partner. “Y-You should tell me- us. I-I… I love you very much so I want to know what’s troubling you so I can… help however I can, even if it might be a little, I want to help.”
“Partner is right. You shouldn’t keep this away from us.” Emeraldine replied. “After I’ve entrusted you my heart, the least I would expect from you is that you would also do the same…”
“Maria, don’t fear our reaction to such things. We won’t find it “useless drama” at all. We are past the point where we joked about things, and we are way past the point where I was trying to simply not have relationships because I resigned to be an Undead. Now that I’ve become something more at your side, the only purpose I have is to see you happy… I only want to see you smile. I had long ago… given up to most of my desires while I remained sealed and then slowly rotted to death. You… You were the one that brought life to me for the first time in hundreds of years.” Lucifer said with a calm smile.
“You guys…” I sighed, as I suddenly feel the embrace of Lucifer’s large arms, and then of Partner and Emeraldine’s thin arms, their warmth slowly began to cover my entire body.
I couldn’t help it anymore; I couldn’t contain it. I began to cry again, like a baby. Like the silly woman I am. I let it all out and put my face over Lucifer’s chest while they all hugged me tightly.
“I’m sorry… I should had told you about how I felt…”
“It’s alright.” Emeraldine said motherly, as she caressed my head.
“Yeah, it is okay.” Partner replied quickly after.
“Were you containing these tears all this time?” Lucifer asked.
“Maybe…” I sighed.
“It must be hard… You’re indeed a very unique being. But I am sure that there is a path you have yet to take.” Said Lucifer.
“A path?” I asked.
“Evolution is not a linear thing, Maria. There are paths. Until now, you’ve been choosing the path to power, but there are many other paths. The path to power has worsened your curse, but it has given you the strength to survive and protect those close to you, right?” Asked Lucifer.
“R-Right…” I sighed.
“You may say you’re dead, but to me, you’re the liveliest person I’ve ever met in my entire life.” Said Lucifer.
“I think the same. I’ve never met someone like you either, Maria… You even told us you have memories of living in another world completely different than this one. You’re someone very unique…” Emeraldine said.
“Without you, I wouldn’t be alive right now, Master… I was created from the bones you left behind, but I feel like… I’ve always been your other half. I want to complement all the things you lack, and help you feel whole again.” Partner said.
“You guys are getting too corny… I am dying of embarrassment…”
“That’s good then.” Lucifer said. “You should choose your path wisely the next time you manage to evolve, Maria. There is a path that might bring the wish you desire, you have to embrace such a path though, and perhaps, even lose something in exchange… However, at the end, that might be what will finally make you feel complete once more. Until then, we’ll dedicate ourselves to make you feel better. And even after that, we’ll continue doing so.”
“Damn you, you’re so good with words…” I sighed. “Well, okay! I get it… Now let’s go to the farm already. I am done crying like a baby… As long as I got you with me, I think I can do anything.”
I guess I am really a lucky ghost to have the three of them at my side.
—–