Welcome back to Hello Charlotte everyone, I really hope that you guys enjoy this chapter. I put a ton of thought into it, so, please remember to VOTE and COMMENT. It means a lot to me plus I like chatting with you guys. Remember to click the video it goes with the video. ~XOXO BUTTERBALL~

The song is: I need some sleep by The EEls.

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-Atlas-

I frowned as I walked to the nearby river to hunt, behind me I heard bushes rustling signaling that Delilah was following close behind. I heard her giggle and looked back a slight smile on my face.

"You're really enjoying yourself aren't you?" I asked her.

She stood up out of the nearby bush and grinned back at me her mouth full of leaves. I reached over and brushed a few leaves out her hair. "There you go, it must be fun for you considering how much time we've spent outside," I said.

"I'll be honest, this is one of the things I like about sleeping outside," she admitted her voice full of excitement.

I just gave her a slight smile as I began walking again, I froze however as I reached the river. Charlotte was sitting on the river bank in her bra and underwear, her contract mark giving off a faint blue glow.

What made me freeze and just stare at her was her back. It was covered in long slashes, the area between her wings honestly looked like just a mass of scar tissue. There were scars on her shoulders that looked like someone had bitten deeply into her skin.

What the fuck happened to her?

Even Delilah seemed to be in stunned silence, but she also had this familiar look of sadness on her face.

"Delilah, I thought we had a discussion about this already," Ivo reminded her as he spoke through Charlotte.

That's right Ivo did go with Charlotte this morning.

Charlotte got to her feet and turned to us, however, her mannerisms at the moment were all Ivo. That's when I also noticed that Charlotte had an odd scar on her stomach.

It...it looks like someone tried to gut her.

Irritation covered Charlotte's face as Ivo spoke again. "I expect this type of behavior from Delilah, but not from you," he said as he crossed Charlotte's arms his gaze going to me.

I never noticed it before but there's something seriously unnerving about Charlotte's eyes when Ivo takes over.

"Well, what's your fucking excuse?" He grumbled.

Delilah let out a soft, nervous-sounding laugh as a slight smile managed to pull across her face. "We were hunting breakfast?"

Charlotte's eyes rolled before Ivo spoke, "Not you Delilah, you lie too well. I want to hear it from bird boy."

I flinched slightly before I let out a sigh. I glanced at Charlotte, her eyes were staring at me with a strange hidden knowledge as Ivo observed me through her. For some reason, it sent a chill down my spine.

"We were coming here to see if there was a moose or something drinking at the river. I swear that I didn't know you two weren't finished," I practically stuttered out under Ivo's critical gaze.

He continued to stare for a moment before he let out a snort and one of his familiar smirks spread across Charlotte's face. "Delilah, you could stand to learn a few things or two from your contract about honesty," he told her as he reached down to pick up a nearby shirt.

Charlotte pulled the shirt over her head, her tail flicking out.

"You're lucky Charlotte's very forgiving about this stuff," Ivo told me as he grabbed the pair of pants at Charlotte's feet.

After he put them on Charlotte he walked past me headed back towards camp. Once Charlotte was gone I let out a breath I didn't even know I'd been holding.

"Yeah, I get that feeling around Ivo too and I've known him since he was a baby. Therions are apex predators for a reason, though," Delilah told me as she gave me a slight pat on the back.

"It's not just Ivo...it was Charlotte. I don't know what happened to her that made her summon Ivo but considering those scars..." I whispered as I bit my lip.

A small sad yet knowing smile spread across her face. "Don't worry Charlotte will speak up when she's ready. Just like you did," she reassured me.

I nodded as Delilah knelt down and touched the ground. She took a deep breath as she closed her eyes. Almost immediately I felt a strange pulse that made me shudder before it faded away.

Delilah rose and looked at me before pointing down the river. "There's a few deer down there drinking. A particularly large buck is observing the herd and distracted," she informed me.

"So go after the big buck, got it. Thank you, Delilah," I told her with a slight smile on my face as I patted her on the head.

She gave a giant grin and tackled me with a hug. "I'm just glad I could help. You're my favorite contract."

I let out a snort and ruffled my wings as I headed down river. As I reached the area that Delilah spoke of I crouched down the tips of my ears twitching as I listened to my surroundings. The tips of my wings lifted slightly.

I took a deep breath holding it as I focused on the buck that Delilah had mentioned. It stood next to a doe observing it as the doe drank water. I notched my bow carefully using my pointer finger as a guide.

There's no wind resistance, I just have to be quiet now.

I let out a tiny huff before I let my arrow fly, it struck the buck in the throat. The buck let out a loud whine as it stumbled forward trying to run away. The other deer ran and scattered in panic, eventually, the buck fell down blood rapidly pooling beneath it as it stained its fur.

I sighed as I walked over to the buck and examined it.

I should be able to carry it back to camp.

Delilah, who of course knew what I was thinking began to glow a gentle green color. After a moment or two large tree roots sprung up from the ground carefully wrapping themselves around the deer.

"Don't worry I'll carry it Atlas," she assured me.

I smiled at her. "Thank you, Delilah."

As we headed back to camp we started to talk. "Delilah, how old are you exactly? Ivo only said that you were older than him," I asked as I looked at her.

She was floating beside me, her body slightly transparent. "Well, honestly I'm as old as Ivo's mother. We were good friends, Elise was a water nymph and we grew up together so we treated each other like siblings. Truth be told back in our kingdom I'm treated like Ivo's aunt," she told me with a scowl on her face I noticed a faraway look in her eyes.

Ivo's mother...I know from Charlotte that Kessel killed her. But I didn't know that Delilah and her were that close.

Delilah let out a chuckle at my thoughts. "Elise was my sister and my best friend, she...she always had this cute way of saying I told you so. It was 'Yeah, you shouldn't have done that' you wouldn't believe how many times she said that to Vincent."

I had a slight smile on my face as I asked a question that I'd wondered about for awhile. "Do you hate Kessel as much as Ivo?" I asked softly.

Delilah ground to a halt, for a few moments she was quiet then she spoke her voice sounding extremely small and unusually fragile. "I-I didn't know what to think when I found out what he had done. I spent years teaching Kessel and Ivo everything, from how to treat your contracts to how to cook for certain supernatural species. Hell...the whole reason Ivo can cook so well now because I got Kessel to help teach him. They were so close it was like they were brothers, they protected each other if they didn't then Kessel definitely would've died that day."

Delilah took a deep breath her voice shaking as she began to speak again. "It's why everyone even Vincent was shocked at what Kessel did. I remember being near Ivo while he was recovering from Kessel's attack and it was like his spirit of broken. Vincent...is a good father but the grief got to him, he used to tell Ivo that he should've never brought him back. That if he loved Kessel that much he should've just consumed him while Kessel was dying."

She let out a deep sigh as she stared down at the ground. "I...I don't...I don't hate what Kessel was, I hate what he's become," She whispered.

I shudder as Caesar's image entered my thoughts.

Hate what he's become huh?

Delilah let out a giggle as she began walking again. "Anyway, we should get back Ivo's probably getting impatient."

I knew that her laughter and sudden cheer were forced but I didn't say anything, I didn't want to force her.

Eventually, we returned to camp, Ivo was helping Charlotte groom her wings.

"Have you been drinking before breakfast again?" Ivo asked his voice taking on a slightly accusatory tone.

Charlotte didn't answer as he gently brushed her wings trying to get any dirt and grime out of her scales.

I sat down near Charlotte a slight smile on my face as Delilah sat the deer down in front of me. "Is that really how you clean your wings?" I asked as I began to gut the deer.

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "It's how Ivo cleans my wings," she mumbled.

Ivo scowled and gave one of Charlotte's wings a slight tug. "Hush, I don't have wings. I'm trying my best, in fact, Delilah taught me how to do this," he said reprimanding her like a parent.

Delilah crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes as she shot a glare at Ivo. "Don't blame me for your behavior in my classroom," she huffed.

I rubbed my hand on the deer's fur, wiping the blood and guts off as I continued to prepare the deer.

Delilah chuckled as she sat down with her legs crossed. "Ivo, do you remember that time when you cooked that goose? Someone asked you what you were doing and you then proceeded to say 'I know what I'm doing' before setting the dead thing on fire using one of Vincent's lighters," she reminded him as she let out a chuckle.

Ivo rolled his eyes as he looked at her. "That's because I know what I'm doing," he answered in a deadpan tone.

Charlotte giggled as she stood up and came over to me. But when she sat down next to me I could only remember those scars I'd seen.

Who would do something like that to her?

"Do you need help Atlas? My claws are pretty sharp and thick," she asked her tail flicking against my arm.

"Yeah, that would help a lot. My claws are thick and sharp but they're more made for snatching things up like a hawk's talon. Having tiger in me does help but, my cuts and tears tend to be messier," I said letting out a chuckle.

Charlotte snickered as she took one of my hands into her own and examined it. She didn't seem to mind the blood that covered my hand, Charlotte held one hand out placing it next to mine as she compared our claws.

"You're right mine are sharp and thick but they're more narrow," she said softly.

"You have claws like a cat and a dragon. It really hurt when you scratched the shit out of me. At least you don't need a weapon you're attacks are pretty primal," I told her.

A light blush covered her face as she began to remove organs from the animal carcass. "I said I was sorry. You surprised me, I don't do well with waking up to someone standing over me," she muttered a scowl on her face as she pouted.

Standing over her...I really hope that doesn't mean what I think it means.

I couldn't help but glance at her stomach where that strange scar was.

Now that I think about it Charlotte usually falls asleep with her back against something if we're outside but, if we're in a hotel she sleeps facing the door if the room is warm.

I frowned as I worked with Charlotte to finish preparing breakfast.

A burglary? But then again it would take someone incredibly stupid to try and attack a house with dragon chimera in it.

As I was thinking I heard Charlotte sigh before she flicked my forehead splattering droplets of blood across my face. Almost instantly I cringed back my eyes going wide. Before could speak though Charlotte leaned closer and began to speak into my ear.

"Atlas I know you saw my scars...I also know that you're incredibly curious. But if I tell you what happened you may just lose faith in people altogether," she whispered into my ear. I could only stare ahead with wide eyes.

"Lose faith in people..." I whispered as I glanced at her."What if I told you that I didn't care? That I'm so worried about you that I'm willing to risk that," I whispered back.

Charlotte's eyes went wide and her tail swished from side to side giving her the appearance of a startled cat. She glanced over to where Delilah and Ivo were talking then she leaned over and began writing in the blood on the ground. The message was so messily drawn that it took me a few moments to read it.

"Don't think it she'll hear," Charlotte whispered under her breath as her tail flicked toward Delilah.

I nodded as we completed the final preparations for breakfast. Charlotte as usual used her own fire instead of the fire we'd made. I had to stand away from the fire slightly as I cooked my own food.

I must've still sat too close because I ended up inhaling a few wisps of smoke which caused me to start coughing almost violently. Delilah patted my back as Charlotte watched me.

"You know if you had asked I would've cooked your food too," Charlotte told me.

I took a deep breath that sounded more like a rasping gasp as I shook my head at what Charlotte had said. Once the coughing died down I held out the piece of deer meat to her as I massaged my chest.

Charlotte turned away from me slightly, however, I could see what she was doing. She clenched her teeth together, as a red blush spread quickly across her cheeks. Charlotte bit her lip and narrowed her eyes before she opened her mouth, a small column of fire rushed out of her mouth enveloping the food and her hand.

When she was done I noticed that while the food was cooked her hand was completely okay.

Considering the fact that she has fire dragon in her she must be impervious to heat.

Ivo chuckled and leaned back against a nearby tree. "If you don't die on this journey you'll probably die from smoke inhalation," he sighed.

Delilah glare at Ivo, her arms crossed over her chest. "Oh shut up you bastard, I've been doing this longer than you have. Besides, I take care of my contracts." She protested.

"You guys do realize that the time you're using to argue you could be helping me pack our stuff up," Charlotte grumbled.

Almost instantly Delilah was clinging to Charlotte nuzzling her as Charlotte put stuff away. "Charlotte's so adorable, are you sure I can't have her Ivo?" She practically pleaded.

"Absolutely fucking not," he grumbled as he stood up and walked over to Charlotte.

Delilah pouted before turning to Charlotte, "Charlotte tell Ivo you'll be my girlfriend!"

Charlotte let out a snort an amused look on her face. "Can't do that right now, too busy trying to kill someone to disrupt a religion," she replied seemingly unphased by Delilah's proposal.

Delilah continued to pout even as she helped us pack up, and soon we were back on the road.

~~~

"So, we have to pass through here but it shouldn't be a problem with all the dragons migrating," Ivo said as he pointed to an area on the map that Charlotte held.

"Are you absolutely sure that we're not walking into a dragon's den?" I asked because honestly, I was slightly skeptical.

It was Charlotte who answered my question. "Yeah he's sure, dragons will be flying for warmer areas so the dens will be empty. Especially with the mating season right around the corner," she informed.

She rolled up the map and handed it back to Ivo while mumbling under her breath. While I didn't catch everything she said I was able to pick out, mating season is fucking bullshit.

Delilah came running through the bushes to join us holding a bunch of leaves and strangely colored mushrooms in her hand. Ivo watched her eat one before sighing. "I hope you enjoy being lucid right now, because in about five minutes you'll be running through the woods screaming that you're a lamp," Ivo told her with a scowl on his face.

I frowned as I looked at Delilah. "Has that actually happened before?"

"No things like poison fruit, leaves, mushrooms and stuff like that don't affect me. Ivo's just messing with you because he's a douchebag," she informed me.

"By the way, we won't have to go somewhere with snow again will we?" Charlotte asked him as she walked next to him.

"If you want an honest answer it would be probably. We're going through a cluster of empty dragons den so it'll more than likely be cold, not to mention there's a village where it tends to snow a lot. But don't worry if you want I'll take you over in those areas," Ivo admitted.

Charlotte shrugged. "Whatever works as long as I don't have to walk around in the snow, I'm happy."

~~~

We walked for a while, seemingly walking through an endless expanse of forest. But eventually, when night fell we set up camp again. I was sitting in front of the fire while Ivo and Delilah slept, Charlotte had walked off somewhere telling me she would be back soon.

So I wasn't surprised in the least when she returned with a clear bottle in her hand that was filled with purple liquid.

"You went to get wine?" I asked.

"Yep, I found a fox spirit a kitsune. She offered it to me, those foxes love to party but they especially love alcohol. I also found a quiet place we can talk, but first we should have some fun," she said as she pulled the cork out of the bottle with ease.

She took a deep drink letting out a satisfied sigh before handing me the bottle. "What kind of fun?" I asked slowly.

Charlotte let out a chuckle, as I took a drink of the wine surprisingly it was really sweet. "Well how about a small race to our destination, you're not to allowed to use your wings though," she suggested as she stood up.

I smiled at her as she took the bottle from me and took another drink. "I think I can do that, it really wouldn't be fair," I said as I raised my arms in the air and stretched.

Charlotte walked over to a nearby tree and tapped it with one claw. "This is our starting line, and that is the finish line," she said pointing to a stone rock face that belonged to part of a large hill.

I expected her to put the wine bottle down but instead, she wrapped her tail around the neck of it. She lifted it up holding it level with her waist.

As I moved into position I glanced at Charlotte who was on all fours and giggling.

She seems really excited about this, despite what she'll be telling me.

"Okay, ready...set...go!" Charlotte announced.

Both Charlotte and I took off at the same time. As I ran I suddenly noticed that Charlotte wasn't beside me anymore, in fact, she was leaping and running through the trees like well a cat.

As I ran I could hear Charlotte giggling, "Come on Atlas, you can do better than that. You have part tiger in you after all," she called down toward me.

"I'm actually built more like a bird," I informed her.

"True, but normal falcons are some of the fastest birds here in the human world. So no excuses." Charlotte told me.

We were quickly approaching the hill and at first, I thought I was the one ahead but, Charlotte suddenly jumped down in front of me and then she began to scurry up the rock face. I could only watch and follow her as she leaped up toward the top.

I followed her close behind and reached the top as she sat down. She looked at me as I stood next to her panting slight. She held the bottle of wine out to me and a small smile on her face.

"Thank you, you're faster than I thought you'd be," I huffed as I sat down next to her.

"I'm built for agility, it's one of the reasons I'm so small," she said as I handed the bottle back to her.

She wanted me to come out here with her, but she didn't want Ivo or Delilah to know.

"Charlotte...why did you ask me out here?" I asked hesitantly.

"Mostly because Ivo's really protective and while he has every right to be considering my behavior. He'd probably try stop me from doing what I'm about to do," she informed me as she sat the bottle down next to her.

I frowned confused and slightly worried. "What are you going to do?" I asked slowly.

She didn't say anything, instead, she moved quickly before I knew it she was straddling me as I lay down on the grass, her contract markings glowing extremely bright. She reached out grabbing my hand, touching one of the markings which instantly began glowing.

"Don't worry, Ivo taught me how to do this. I know that you're extremely curious about me. So I'm going to show you a few things about me which should sate your curiosity. Now, are you sure you want to know, honestly I haven't actually done this before so I hope it works," she informed me.

I took a deep breath before speaking, "Yes I'm sure," I whispered which caused Charlotte to smile.

Almost instantly a chill rolled over my skin and the world began to spin as darkness crept across my vision. The last thing I saw was Charlotte falling forward, collapsing onto my chest.

~~~

Slowly I opened my eyes, my back was leaning against something hard and I was in a brightly lit white tile room. I glanced over to my left and noticed a toilet sitting there.

Suddenly I spoke against my will, "That's right...I miss behaved again so mom put me here," I whispered.

I felt myself frown as I slowly and carefully rose to my feet, however, I felt extremely tired and weak my body seemed to absolutely hate the idea of standing up. My legs were shaking against my will and honestly, I just wanted to lay back down and fall asleep forever.

Why am I here? Why won't my body listen to me?

Truthfully even though I was panicking on the inside, strangely enough, my body felt extremely calm.

I bent over and brushed my hand against a shackle which was on my right ankle. The chain led from it and wrapped around one of the legs of the bathtub I'd been lying against.

I'm chained to the bathtub? Why the fuck am I chained up?

When I looked forward and into the mirror above the sink I began to panic even more. The reflection that stared back at me wasn't my own it was Charlotte's.

Is...this what she meant by showing me something?

I took a better look into the mirror, Charlotte didn't have her contract markings. But she was covered in something else, bruises. She had a line of bruises around her neck as though someone had tried to strangle her, there was a faded bruise around one of her eyes. However, now that I was standing I noticed something else.

Charlotte looked a lot younger but she also was dangerously skinny almost to the point where it was hard to determine her age. I sighed and spoke again as Charlotte approached the mirror, she opened the medicine cabinet it was attached to.

"It's not locked so she more than likely took the sedatives and sleeping pills," I whispered.

A second later a chill crawled over my skin and a strange overwhelming sense of nausea suddenly made me gag over the skin as the door began to open. As a woman entered the room I continued to gag, unable to retch up anything because there was nothing to bring up.

As I glanced at the woman a word formed in my mind.

Her mom, this woman is Charlotte's mother?

She walked over to me and examined me with a smirk on her face. "Oh you're sick, I know I didn't give you too much. Unless you stole some of the sedatives but I know you didn't do that honey," she said her voice dripping with venom and malicious sweetness.

I shook my head as I gasped, I clenched my teeth my entire body shaking as my vision spun. My breathing began to speed up as tears leaked from my eyes.

A panic attack. I'm, no Charlotte's having a panic attack.

Even though I wanted to help her, I knew that I couldn't. This was Charlotte's memory, her past and no matter how much I wanted to I couldn't change it.

"No master I've been lying down here on your orders," I whispered.

The woman narrowed her eyes before she reached out and grabbed Charlotte by her hair. Pain erupted throughout my scalp as she dragged me closer.

"Don't tell me what I already know you, worthless whore!" She growled before tossing Charlotte to the ground.

I could only lay there too weak to move yet hurting too much to pass out.

Charlotte's mom raised her foot and brought it down hard between my wings. I bit my lip so hard it began bleeding as I resisted the urge to cry out.

"Don't worry honey, I'm just seeing if you're hurting. Good thing your bones didn't break, or I wouldn't be able to give you these," she told me as she held up a bottle of pills.

This woman, this fucking cunt is the devil herself! She needs to die!

Her mother opened the pill bottle and poured the pills on the floor. As Charlotte began to frantically take the medicine her mother laughed. "You really love those sedatives, you're popping them like candy," she said.

I tried to sit up but my vision began to spin and I fell backward. As it faded in and out I felt someone prop me up and a bottle of bitter liquid was forced into my mouth.

A gentle male voice entered my ears, "I'm sorry Charlotte. I'm so, so sorry."

Father...it's Charlotte's father. Why is he giving her liquor?

My body nearly rejected the alcohol but I managed to keep it down.

Suddenly my vision went black like someone turning off a light.

When I woke up I didn't know where I was, but I knew I was lying on a bed due to the softness. I could feel heat emanating from beside me which strangely made me remember where I was and what I was doing. If I could've vomited I would have, however even though I felt absolutely disgusting I had no control over anything.

Charlotte slowly got out of the man's bed trying her best to remain quiet. She grabbed the white dress she'd been wearing. But before I could put it on, the male chimera that had been sleeping next to me woke up.

Even though I was naked I ran trying my best to reach the door that led out of the bedroom. But the man who was also naked quickly caught up with me tackling me to the ground. He straddled me and shoved my face into the carpet trying to smother me.

I managed somehow to wriggle out from underneath him but he dragged me back by my tail. He pulled me back down under him, this time I was facing him. Something glinted in his left hand causing me to struggle frantically.

"I'm sorry Charlotte...but my family can't find out. Especially not my daughter," he cried as he leaned forward and sniffed her neck, "You look so much like my daughter, my precious little girl!"

The pain was instant and quick as he stabbed me in my stomach, but at the same time, I hardly felt the pain. The man stumbled back whimpering and panicking he dropped the knife as he held his head in his hands.

A moment later he spoke, "A grave...the body I have to get rid of it!" He said as he rushed out the room. I heard someone knocking on a door faraway.

I began to crawl across the floor slowly dragging myself toward the window. The moment I reached it I began to pull myself up, blood leaking out of my mouth rapidly the metal tang sticking to my tongue.

My limbs shook beneath me as I tipped over the window sill. The knocking continued. I felt exhausted and I could only lay in the grass staring up at the sky.

"Charlotte!"

That's her dad's voice.

A moment later he appeared in my field of vision his eyes wide and his face pale.

"Oh Charlotte, I'm so sorry. Don't worry I'll, I'll fix this," he said as he carefully picked Charlotte up, holding her in his arms.

"Kessel, he should be at the church," he muttered to himself.

I opened my mouth choking on blood as I struggled to speak. "Please...let...me...die," I forced out.

As my vision went dark once again, I could feel myself waking up.

~~~

I opened my eyes gasping frantically.

"Ah, you're awake. That took longer than expected," Charlotte said calmly as she finished off the bottle of wine.

Instantly what I had seen flashed through my mind and a heavy wave of nausea swept over me. I rolled over onto my hands and knees, as I began to throw up.

I felt Charlotte gather my hair up in her hand, her other hand gently rubbing my back. "Don't worry that feeling will go away," she told me.

"How...how did you even live with something like that, in a place like that!" I struggled to control my breathing.

After a moment Charlotte spoke, "Most of the time I was drugged and drunk so I usually felt nothing. But when I summoned Ivo my mind was clear and I finally realized that no matter how much I wanted to die, if I did die I would be letting that woman win. When Ivo confronted her, she was coming up to the attic where I was with a knife," she told me softly.

Charlotte tossed the empty wine bottle down the hill. "Ivo wasn't the first one to try to protect me. Kessel was and he tried, he really did but he was busy, eventually, he had to leave town on a mission. I never saw him again until Ivo went digging around in my memories," she whispered.

I wrapped my arms around her in a hug, my wings wrapped around us. Charlotte chuckled softly. "Your wings are really soft."

However, I didn't say anything so for awhile we sat and watched the stars in silence.