The townspeople glared at the fox and me, baring their teeth. The women shielded their children, but their innocent eyes gazed at us with curiousity.

I kept swallowing as I stood in broad daylight. My hands began trembling as I struggled to push the magic back to its constraints. With my heart racing, I grew weary of my powers as the townspeople stalked toward us, giving off icy stares.

"I..I can't stop it..!", I balled my hands into fists as felt beads of sweating roll down my forehead.

Noticing my discomfort, the fox swung his arm in front of us and cast a wall of blue fire. I sighed in relief as the townspeople jumped back.

"URK..!"

My eyes widened as the fox clutched his chest and doubled over.

I kneeled beside him and laid my hand on his back, "What's wrong?!"

Clenching his jaw, the fox grimaced from the pain, "I'm reaching my limit..!"

The wall of fire slowly diminished from our sight, leaving no barrier between the townspeople and us. Squinting, I noticed a figure emerging from the crowd. A blur of red sent my heart racing.

"She's a monster!! Look at what she did to me!!", Raising her hand up in the air, Laila displayed her burnt wrists, scarred from my earlier accident.

I bit my lip as I watched the anger wash over the people's faces. They stared back at me with veins pulsing from their heads, looks of horror and guns in hand as they charged toward me. As Laila disappeared into the crowd, she smiled devilishly at me before winking. 

"...You have...to run...go, I'll...find you..!", the fox coughed as he tried to haul himself off the ground.

I pressed my hands against his back and frowned, "I'll be damned if you think I'm leaving your side", I smirked.

With widened eyes, the fox watched as I raised my hand and let a ball of magic crackle to life. Instead of shooting it into the crowd, I aimed it toward the sky. Once exploded, the purple beams of light streamed toward us on the ground, expanding into a forcefield.

I lowered my gaze and the inside corners of my eyebrows slanted upward as the sounds of the angry mob filled my ears.

A wave of sorrow overcame me as I listened to the townspeople's hurtful words. Witch!! Monster!! Demon!! Killer!! Monster!!! Monster!!!! The shouting became so unbearable that I slammed my hands against my ears and doubled over grimacing.

As I glanced up, I felt tears stream down my cheeks. My eyes widened as a face stood out from the crowd. Suddenly, the cries of anger faded as I stood up to my feet and come face-to-face with the person I loved.

"...Mom..?"

My mother's face was wet with tears. Her beautiful, charcoal hair was in a messy bun. She had black circled around her eyes. A ghost of a smile spread across my face as I tapped at the spot of the forcefield that she stood behind. She slipped inside before the forcefield closed on her. 

"My baby!!", Her hands reached out and pressed my body against hers. I clung to her and nestled my face into her shoulder.

"Mom!! I'm so sorry!! I didn't mean for any of this to happen!!"

Bringing her face up to mine, my mother frowned, "Listen to me... I don't know how you got these...these... abilities! But don't you forget that our family NEVER apologizes for who we are!", her hands cupped my face as she stared back at me.

"Wipe those tears, baby..! I don't care what these idiots are blabbering about, you saved us..!", my mother shoved me back into a hug and I greedily breathed in her scent, fearing I might forget it.

"Mom..! I..I..I don't want to leave you..! Or dad, or my brothers..!", I sobbed into her shoulder, squeezing her back as hard as I could.

"Elizabeth, don't you see what's happening outside? It's not safe for you to be here anymore. I am your mother and it's my job to keep you safe... Maybe I could tell the townspeople to stay the hell away... but what if the government takes you away from me..!"

I brought my face back and stared at my mom. She was crying again. My eyes widened as I held my breath back. It was the first time I'd seen my mother cry as hard as she did right now.

The fox grunted as he gathered up the energy to stand on his feet again, although he continued to clutch his chest. My mother noticed him and her eyes went wide, but it wasn't long until she regained her composure.

"You there! What's your name?", my mother furrowed her eyebrows as her eyes darted around the fox's strange features.

"My name... Is Siva, miss. I am here to take your daughter away... to someplace where no can touch her."

I felt my mother's arms on me tightened, "Okay, Siva... You promise me that you'll protect her, that if anything happens to her, God forbid it, but... You come back for me so I can bury my daughter..!"

Smiling warmly, the fox pressed his hand against his heart and bowed to my mother, "I'd gladly die before I'd watch your daughter fall before me."

Nodding her head—satisfied—my mother brought her hands back to my face.

She kissed my forehead and smiled, "I love you."

"I love you too..!", I pressed my lips against her cheek. Her hand brushed the side of my face before she began backing away from me. I grimaced as I felt her touch linger on my skin.

"You've made us proud, Elizabeth..! Don't stop fighting!"

Another stream of tears flowed from my eyes as I watched my mother's figure slip out of the forcefield. I balled fists and squeezed my eyes shut. Hot tears finally streamed down my cheeks.

With the forcefield beginning to falter, Siva brought his hand to my back and spoke softly, "It's time to go..."

I turned to him and sniffled, "I have one request."

Gazing into my eyes, Siva swallowed, "Make it quick."

I nodded my head as I gazed at Siva's chest, his kimono held a crimson stain, "You will take me to see Reed."

Wrapping an arm around my waist, Siva pressed my body against his as I brought the forcefield down with a wave of my hand. With a jolt, we jumped off the ground.

My eyes widened as I caught sight of my family looking at me from the ground. My mother, father, and siblings gazed up at me with sad smiles. My heart fluttered in my chest and my hand instinctively reached out towards them as a warm smile spread across my face.

Siva soared us through the sky and within minutes we arrived at the hospital, where I climbed into Reed's room through the window.

I stepped onto the ground quietly and gazed up to find Reed still lying on his bed. He sat upright as he saw me from across the room.

"Elizabeth, you're back..!"

I jogged up to Reed and pressed my index finger to my lips, "Listen to me carefully, Reed. The demons attacked the town, I had to stop them and now—"

"And now your secret is out...", Reed's smile faded.

"Not entirely... Reed, you're still the only one who knows the truth about me. I know I told you to keep quiet, but I need you to tell my family everything!", I grabbed Reed's hands and stared intently at him.

He smiled, "Say no more... But what's going to happen to you, Elly?"

I sighed as I turned to look at Siva who leaned against the wall with a stoic expression. Reed jumped in his seat as he noticed the strange man.

I chuckled, "Long story short, he's here to take me someplace I'll be safe... trust me."

Reed nodded his head, "...Oookay... Will I get to see you again..?"

Taking a step back, I stood up straight, "Reed, hear me well when I say that I will come back to Earth once I've become worthy of all of you. I'll get stronger and come back to see you, my friend. You and everyone I care about, I promise."

Staring at me with wide eyes, Reed laughed softly, "Cross your heart and hope to die?"

I chuckled, "Yes... Goodbye, Reed."

With a sad smile, Reed saw me off as I walked towards Siva. This time, Siva scooped me up into his arms and brought a foot onto the windowsill. However, before he could take off, I turned to look at Reed from over my shoulder and smiled.

"I love you, Reed. You know I always did..."

Suddenly, we soared away from the window. I gazed back to see Reed's dumbfounded expression...