Invocation

Kurokami awoke several hours later in a daze. He knew that something was off about the situation because dread soon filled his mind and his body soon felt cold. The child who waited patiently in tears was beside him. Her knee looked numb as she held me close in her arms.

“Papa!” Lily’s face burst with joy as she noticed I had woken up.

“Hey, how long have I’ve been out?” I asked. I looked around the alley before noticing a trail of my dark fluids leading up to behind the girl. I felt my chest and it was completely fine because the bullet that had hit me was missing, but how unless she took it out. “Did you mess with my body when I was out?” I looked at her and she avoided my gaze like a scared little animal.

“Papa I- I was scared that it would kill you so I used it to take it out.” She broke down and dug herself into my chest trying to hide her face. I embraced her gently as I tried to forget the aching in my body.

“It’s okay Lily. How about we go get you that Pbj I promised." Lily smiled happily as she grabbed my arm and pulled me outside the alley. “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.” I recalled. “How am I to answer such a question when I’m not even religious? Why is a simple I want to help you turn into such a problem? Why can’t I do anything?” I contemplated over it, but I couldn't find an answer, so I wandered the rosy red covered streets wondering what could he have done and why he didn’t do it. The ash covered winds blew over me as I went to a nearby convenient store, but the doors seemed to be torn off its hinges.

“Stay here Lily, okay? I’ll be right back so don’t worry about me, but just stay right here.” I went inside the store to get something into my system, although I didn’t require any form sustenance I felt closer to Lily and Sal when I did eat. The cashier lied on the counter motionless to his customer. I leaned in to get a better look and saw that the pudgy man has had his throat slit deep. “She’s been here.” I left the store holding the goodies unfazed by the corpse and as I closed my eyes for a brief moment. “I guess every hero is somebody else's villain in one way or another.” The building behind me burst into flames, the cashier’s body flying across the sky as I took a sip from my coffee, “I guess I’m stuck with clean up duty.” I held Lily in my arms as she carried the goods and as I looked off at the vast vacant view of the city nothing of value to me was spotted for miles, but this little child. I felt the corpse’s presence against my very being because they were all marked the same way with either a slit throat or a horrified face from their demise.

“It’s going to take me quite some time to clean this up, but if I just burn the bodies I will be no less than those silly humans.” I sighed at the thought, but realized that this was getting worse by the day as I passed a sign with the city’s name on it.

“New York the city that never sleeps happily.” I might have added a word to it.

The smell of ashes and corpses filled the city once known as the Big Apple was now only showing one shade of red. The bustling city that was one of many that knew how to keep its people busy was now abandoned by its citizens. The plague that trapped this world was impossible to determine by mere evidence alone thus man captured its forgotten instincts and let them rise once more. Each man more mad then the next, but like every society in human history one will rise among the rest to make sure that their power is absolute. However the cost for such power requires a scapegoat who can take all the blame, the witch trials of Salem, the gods of the past and even those of Jewish ancestry. All have fallen to such blame from the humans and as they stood there begging for their lives, it was taken away just as easily. I saw a pier close by and decided that depositing corpses into the ocean was better than letting them rot on concrete. Lily, who was now passed out on my back, but somehow still able to hold the goodies, looked absolutely peaceful that it almost brought me to tears. I noticed a large cargo boat docked onto the harbor and knew I had found the best way to clean up.

As I finished dumping the last load of bodies onto a ship, I saw Sal sleeping on the pier. She was stained with dark red all over her clothes similar to the streets of the city. She held a knife in her hand it stained with human juice, meanwhile her face showed signs of relief and comfort. I lifted the girl into my arms as grew my wings to hold Lily close that she wouldn't fall.

“Hey wake up Sal.” I whispered into her ear as gently shook her as if she was a child. The girl woke up dazed as if she had forgotten the day before.

“Kurokami, time?” She stretched her body and yawned as I carried her in my arms.

“It’s about noon and how do you feel?” I asked.

“Good, job finished.” She wore that blank face as she attempted to try to lightened the mood, but to be honest I didn't mind it. I stopped caring about the humans after that day, but I never hated them once for trying to do what they call civilized because they are animals, no different from dogs. We stopped by a nearby recreational center as Lily woke up.

“Where are we Papa?” Lily asked me as she started to open her eyes. “Mama! You’re here.” Lily looked happy to see Sal and that smile looked like it could give peace to the world.

“Yes.” She gave two thumbs up as the two forgot that I was holding them both and began to get giddy with each other like they were long lost friends. It’s not that they were heavy more of me running out of energy.

“Sal I don’t want to be rude, but do you think we can go inside? I set them down gently and told them to go into the girls shower to clean up, but as soon as I left to go into the men showers Lily began to whine about me leaving her. Sal being the optimist decided that I need to be with Lily more so she found a jump rope and tied my arms to a chair and blind folded me. I was thrown under a cold shower besides them I think and was suddenly drenched in water. I wish I could have felt the cold so I could complain about it, but sadly I couldn't. I could hear small petite footsteps in front of me so I assumed it was Lily. “What is it Lily?”

“How did you know Papa?” She asked.

“There are only three people in here and you the smaller one of the two so lucky guess?”

“Okay can I ask you something?”

“Why not, it’s not like I can do anything else while I’m tied up.”

“Can you wash my hair because Mama is too rough when she does it? I’m scared she is going to pull it out.” She loosened my arms, but I was still blindfolded so I couldn't see anything.

“Am I supposed to wash your hair without being able to see anything?”

“Yes.” She said that like I was some kind of super hero with see through vision. I didn't have any sort of vision that could see through my blindfold or anything, but I could sense human presence decently. I told her to place my hand on her head and pass me the shampoo; which was conveniently here.

“You’re almost eight years old and you still want me to wash your hair. What’s with that?” I groaned as I washed her hair. I was still blind but I could tell from the silky smooth feeling I was touching was definitely her hair. I was still being drenched by the freezing water, but even if I were to get wet my clothes I didn't mind it’s just that drying them it was much more tedious if anything. As usual the girl managed to find a way to make me do her bidding, but I never complained once; at least without half-jokingly.

“Hey Papa may I ask you a question?” Lily suddenly asked as I rinsed her hair with water.

“Go right ahead.” I replied unconsciously.

“What was the thing that Mama was covered with and why don’t you try to make her stay with us?” She asked as she put on a towel.

“Well first off go put on some warm clothes it’s going to be windy soon and second the red stuff was fruit punch because someone doesn't know when to stop drinking.” I pretended to drink to make her understand what I was saying. I couldn't tell her the truth and at the same time I felt that I wasn't lying because it was human juice and she couldn't control it. Lily began to laugh from the comment and went to dry herself off. “Third I don’t know why I don’t try to chain her up, but she is kind of like a bird that can’t be brought down to earth.” I mumbled.

“I’m bird?” Sal instantly wrapped her body around my back attempting to show me her affection; however it was too little effect. I sighed at her attempt as I felt the water drain from the shower.

“You’re going to get sick doing such unrefined things.” Sal was stubborn and demanded that I called her by her full name. I began to get annoyed by her display of what I assumed of dominance, but I never wanted to say that name ever again.

“Name?” she yelled. Relentless she held close to me like a child wanting a toy, but she somehow managed to keep it calm and collect like usual. Sal wasn't like any normal girl who plays and enjoys life, but she was one to look at the faults of the world. It wasn't her fault it was more of just bad events that had taken place, but we’ll talk about that later.

“Salvation.” I replied. I could feel her face change from serious to a light-hearted burst of joy from my words. I felt relieved that the girl was smiling and not interrogating me, but somehow the mood didn't last very long.

“Thank you, sorry.” Sal untied my blindfold and once again Sal held me close looking directly into my eyes. The girl’s face lifeless as she drained the room of its color and it was slowly reaching my mind. I felt trapped in by her grip even though it was gentler than a minute ago. “I repay Kurokami?.”

“No need I am just doing what I promised you.” My voice was much more nervous as the woman held me mere inches from her face. My scarlet face was burning from her grip, but I couldn't move. I felt as if my heart was about to explode from my chest. “Why is this happening to me?” I thought.

The girl leaned by my ear and whispered one word softly. “Two minutes.”

“What happens in two minutes?” I asked, but was interrupted by Lily walking back into the room dressed in cute panda pajamas.

“Papa what happened? Why is your face red? Is it a fever?” I told Sal to put on her clothes and be ready to leave soon then I got up and left the showers to keep watch on the outside. Sal smiled and left quickly to change.

“It’s nothing don’t worry about it. I am only waiting one minute for you Sal, so hurry up and get dressed.” Suddenly a loud humming noise filled the air as the wind was blowing hard against me. I looked up and saw three helicopters pass by. The machines were filled those wretched those humans holding heat seeking weapons.

“Kurokami finished.” Sal ran outside and hugged my back as she watched the helicopters fly past us. One of the helicopters paused and I could tell that the pilot was staring us down. I originally thought that there were alone but then the others soon followed.

“You’ve got to be kidding me. How could they be moving this quickly?” I yelled. Lily was puzzled by my stressed face so she gave me a tighter grip on my arm.

“Try best.” I felt absolutely dishearten by the praise of a murderer, but a compliment is still a compliment. “Go!”

“Papa do we have to go up?” Lily held me even closer as I prepared for the flight I was about to take. I could tell that she didn't want to go into the sky because she was trembling. I understood the feeling because for me flying was worse than dying because it was just more terrifying and painful.

Sal ran back the other way shouting, “Weapons; Lily watch”

I released my dark wings once more; however this time my wings held the girl close to him and resembled an angel rather than a demon. My body felt calm as I let go of all of my pain and prepared to take off. She held my neck as my large wings still shaking from the fear of the sky above.

“You don’t want me to fly do you Lily.” She shook her head with her eyes closed while gripping my neck even harder. If I could breathe air then I would have suffocated, but I wasn't human so it was no big deal. I saw the humans aiming their weapons at Lily and to be honest that was pissing me off. I felt something erupt within me like I have felt before. It wasn't anger or spite, but my own carelessness coming forth once again. “Lily can you do something for papa?”

“Hnng?” She said as she shook her head to tell me yes.

“After him!” The commander yelled and all the others follow. Lily stared at me in confusion and she was right to be confused. I never wanted her to call me papa because I’m the worst type of person and I wasn't suited to be her parent or even a friend much less because of my own vanity. I wish I was human so I could take care of her better, but I wasn't. I took the remote from inside my jacket and gave it to her.

“What does this do?” Lily asked.

“If Mama comes back then tell her to get inside this with you, okay?” She shook her head and ran behind a nearby car.

“But what does it do Papa?”

“It will protect you…”

“From what?”

“From me. Now when I count to three, close your eyes, press the button and don’t let go of it for even a second until Mama tells you to. If you do then I can’t guarantee anything.” I counted to three and my mind became a blur and my body was numb to the bone. My life’s existence was made to die for those two, nothing more. I had no aspirations, no goals, and no meaning, but somehow seeing my flesh and blood alongside my beautiful mate compelled me to want to never see them fade away.

Damn I wish I was human so I could understand what this feeling meant. I was alone in my head laying in empty space clueless to the outside world. If only I was human I wouldn't have to put them through this situation. If only I was human so we could be together without anyone trying to kill us. If only I was human.

“No sleep.” I began to fall down from my empty space. It was her voice that echoed in my mind. It resonated me emptiness and dragged me back to earth as fast as I left it. “Punishment!” I blinding light broke my focus as I instantly felt a burn on my cheek. I opened my eyes and I saw Lily and Sal both looking at me intensely. My head felt as if someone had melted it and shook all the goop inside, but my chest was filled with a good feeling after seeing these two unharmed.

Reviews

[Yuelia and Nollia]

Yuelia: Amazing, wonderful, awesome. I think you're better than anyone else on this site!
Nollia: I don't like complimenting people, but you've earned this one. Truly amazing and quite my style. Are you my secret twin I didn't know about?!

Tip from Nollia: "If only I was human" I believe would sound better as "If only I were human"

Note: We are writers and English teachers so we double in rating and tips.
(If you don't want any tis, let us know, we tend to go overboard)

[One Lost Anti-Hero]

I'm okay with you guys both giving me your opinions. I thank you both for your criticism and I am probably not your twin or maybe I am who knows.

[Yuelia and Nollia]

Yuelia: Well, you did awesome!
Nollia: Are you 5 feet and 11 inches? Do you have dark black hair? Yuelia may not be my twin after all. (Jk and she is like opposite of me, pale blonde, and short, lol)

[Nyu]

A really good write. I enjoyed the description and it had a nice flow to the storyline. :)

[One Lost Anti-Hero]

Thank you I always get worried if I added a lot more than I should have.

[Nyu]

No I think its perfect the way it is. A fine length

[One Lost Anti-Hero]

Thank you.