Nightfall came and it felt like Keith was a different person altogether. It was weird but I didn't mind it. It was a more hollow and emotionless shell of himself. I wanted to ask him but I knew his parents were coming. They wouldn't be nice to me and I had to prepare for that as well.

He put on a light jacket even though it was still freezing outside and I would make him wear a scarf or something.
" While I go and meet my mother, you have to stay here. My father will be here soon to stay with you, maybe my brother. Don't offer them any food or drinks, because they don't like it. Whatever you do, keep slight distance. I trust them but they aren't the safest people. " He kissed me passionately when he finished and held my face in his hands, looking into my eyes.

Leaving me behind was already scary. But with his father? I didn't even know what his father was capable of. He hugged me tightly and shut the door behind him.

I let out a breath of air and turned. A massive shadow appeared behind me as I covered my mouth from screeching but he materialized. More than a whole foot taller than me stood a man with dark hair, milky skin and piercing green eyes, almost like gemstones.

He wasn't menacing, but than again, he was the father of one of the most mysterious men I'd ever met. He wore a simple button up and dark jeans and dark shoes. He was all in black overall. " I was asked to oversee you while my son is away. " I nodded, stupidly. Keith's charisma was definitely from his father. If I was ready to do whatever he said with no hesitation, he was definitely not natural.

" So, you're like my dad." I acknowledged in amazement. His eyebrows drew together, almost in confusion but mostly very sure " What makes you say that?"

His voice was like rough gravel and his words were crisp and clear. " Well, I'm going to marry Keith. So you're like my dad."

He rolled his eyes, almost comically. " What, are you going to fix him? " he teased, almost mockingly. My smile, unwavering, I persisted. " Well I don't have much of a dad myself, I would much rather have a dad like you." His face went from mocking to mildly concerned " You're talking to me? I'm just checking. I'm certain Keith told you-"

" That you weren't in his life. And that you only cared for him from a distance. As far as I'm concerned, that sounds like a dream to me." I don't know where this babbling came from but it all felt true.

He took my hand and led me to the living room. I sat with himm, by the fire. His eyes held something so cold and void within them as he looked into the fire. " Why do you want to marry him?" He looked me dead in the eye and I didn't look away either. " Because he loves me. And he cares for me and I-"

" I know better than anyone else what happened to him and what he ended up doing to you as a result." He could see the horror in my eyes and the scared face of a girl rather than a brave front I put up for the world." If I don't teach him to control his powers and quickly, something worse will happen to you." His eyes dropped to my collar which was still not fully healed. My vision got blurry with hot tears, my lip trembling
" But he's sorry..." I whispered, my voice squeaky and strained.

He hung his head " I know he's sorry and most likely regrets everything that happened. The fact that he's sorry doesn't stop you from dying if his powers get out of hand again." My face was hot with tears in them, slipping down my cheeks.

I didn't want him to see me like this." So tell me, why of every person you could've had did you choose an unstable warlock?" I said nothing. his emerald eyes turned black as he grabbed my hand.

The veins in my arm turned black and I cried, but my vision went black for a while. All I could feel was hostility. Anger and resentment. My life coming and going in flashes that made me angry. All of the people that felt it was okay to sexualize me, to hurt my feelings, belittled me and even molest me burned to ashes in my mind. My family let me down, which was more disappointing than angering but I couldn't halt all of this rage I felt.

Until I saw Keith in my memory. His warmth and his hugs. His kisses and his long talks about my body image. Him holding a candle in his hand when he welcomed me home and kissed me. Him teasing me and sometimes even laughing when I fell brought so much comfort to my life. It felt like forever when he finally let go and I felt nothing at all.

He looked away from me " I understand." Was all he said afterward, before we didn't say anything at all to each other. He knew me better than most people did now. He knew too much about me. What if he-" Your father is a bad example of a parent. The fact that you rushed to me of all people shows that. " the fire flickered and popped. He was silent for some time before speaking again. " If you need me to be here, I will be." He got up and walked upstairs. I wanted to reach out and say something, but no words came out. He paused before approaching the staircase. All I could do was nod. His back was turned but he continued. I leaned into the arm of the couch and closed my eyes, wishing for a little bit of rest.
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She was so light that I could break every bone in her body in a single blow and kill her. After I touched the basement steps I knew exactly what happened. She was flung across the room in his irritation and the demon's rage. That didn't demonstrate his power because he was possessed. But it meant something.

All she wanted was care. Not even love. She wanted a mother and father before she wanted a lover and that was saying something. She was also flung from the door though.... So twice. A lot happened here, some of which I couldn't see, which wasn't normal.

I walked back upstairs, seeing her being chased down the stairs and purposefully  tripped until she fell. Hmm. I turned to check in on her in the living room. Asleep. I touched enough to piece together her memories from this house which where similar if not the same.

I moved forward because it sounded like her breathing was off. Her eyes were squeezed shut and she was sweating uncontrollably. I touched her head and I was there. The room was dark and the door was locked. Rage filled me at the scene before me.

The gutted swine lie on the floor, blood all over her face. She couldn't speak at all. I grabbed her shirt and pulled it back over her head. I kicked the man over and saw her father's face. Just like in her memories. He was the one who broke her spirit.

I looked her in the eyes " If another man touches you like that again, I will make him suffer. Now come, Zoey. " I broke the lock on the room and led her out. Blood blocked my sight but I took the lives of everyone, waiting outside for her. The hand I held wasn't small anymore. She grew but I felt her fall to the floor. I wiped my eye and saw her, blood pooling from her mouth. She was dying.