Making Sure

It took Aaron several moments but he was getting a handle on himself. He was beginning to calm down and with calm came clarity and with clarity came concern., "Monica!"

"We'll Discuss This Later Gog... Right Now I Have To See If My Sister Is Okay!"

Aaron jumped out of bed and threw on a shirt not realizing until he was at his door that there was something in his hand. Aaron's eyes widened in shock as he looked down at the small metal object in his hand, he turned and was about to throw the tiny hunk of metal across the room but instead he shoved it into his pants pocket and raced out of the room. It was still early so most of The Servants weren't awake and making the rounds, and those that were were downstairs so Aaron didn't have to worry about bumping into anyone so he didn't have to spare the horsepower as he barreled down hall after hall like he was being chased by The Devil Himself until he got to his Sister's room. He stopped in front of her door and was about to knock., "What Am I Thinking?"

"Father, She's Alright... I..."

"I Have To See For Myself!," Aaron's worried voice came through the link loud and clear, leaving no room for argument.

Aaron opened the door to his Sister's room and crept inside. She was resting comfortably, sprawled across her bed haphazardly with her body only partially covered by her sheets. She wore a frilly pink thong and a skimpy tank top that just barely covered her chest. Aaron might have been aroused if he weren't so worried. His first and only concern was her well-being... Nothing else mattered.

"Gog, Scan Her and Give Me A Readout On Her Vitals."

Aaron quickly took in the information streaming in from the scan and had already confirmed what Gog was about to tell him., "All Vitals Are Green and Normal."

"I Can See That... Thank You Gog."

Aaron was indeed relieved but not a trace of relief could be heard in his voice. Despite Gog's assurances and the flurry of information in front of him confirming her words there was still a part of Aaron that was having trouble accepting that she was okay. His "Nightmare" if you can even call it that had frightened him even more than he was willing to admit so even though he had the utmost confidence in Gog's readouts he began a visual inspection just to set his mind at ease.

Just as he expected there wasn't so much as a blemish on her beautiful tanned skin. Even standing at her bedside, Aaron could feel the heat from her body and it made Aaron a bit envious as he thought of his own pale cadaverous flesh and absently rubbed the scar on his forearm through the sleeve of his shirt. He wondered what it was like to be warm... to feel cold... because despite his impeccable memory these sensations didn't feel real when he recalled them. They felt synthetic like they were made up... like they came from outside somewhere far away.

Aaron sighed and was about to turn and leave when he noticed something. Shocked, Aaron bent down and examined his Sister's neck, gently turning her head to the side. There were bruises on the side of her neck and they were in the shape of fingers. They were an angry purple fading to a greenish yellow outline. They were already fading., "Probably Because She's A Chrome.," Aaron thought, remarking on her good fortune to be among those to be blessed with enhanced genes like his Mother and older Sisters., "But How Did They Get There?," Aaron blinked and they were already gone. If not for his immaculate memory Aaron would have doubted whether or not he saw what he saw.

Aaron looked closer and all he saw was smooth, tanned skin and for the first time since he entered his Sister's room he felt a genuine lessening of anxiety. Before turning to leave Aaron kissed Monica softly on the forehead., "You Have To Stay Alive Little Sister or I Will Never Be Happy Again In This Life."

Aaron made his way back to his room now that his fears had been assuaged... At least for the moment. As soon as Aaron had left, making sure to close the door behind him as quietly as possible, A mysterious figure appeared from a dark corner of Monica's room.

It was the same Mysterious Redhead that had appeared in Aaron's "Dream." She was wrapped in the same heavy spun wool robes that she wore before and like before her fiery red hair spilled out from around her neck and across her chest like blood from an open wound. Her eyes were a sickly yellowish green. She was beautiful or would have been if not for her anemic and dirt-covered face.

The Dark Shadows of Monica's room twisted as The Mysterious Redhead glided across the floor and came to a stop beside Monica's bedside.

The Mysterious Redhead stretched out, a grotesquely misshapen right hand which bore only three gnarled fingers, each ending in a long, vicious-looking claw. As her hand emerged from her robes, a purple mist that stung the nose and eyes filled the room and made the air itself shudder violently.

The Mysterious Redhead looked toward the door to Monica's room and smirked., "So Young and Yet So Powerful... I've Waited A Very Long Time For Something Interesting To Happen."

"So You Are The One Who Will Change Everything...," Looking back down at Monica, The Mysterious Redhead stated in a cruel whisper that made the entire room shake as she ran one of her evil-looking claws up and down Monica's cheek, the skin literally evaporating and reforming with every contact., "... I Can See Why He Loves You So Much...," The Mysterious Redhead's eyes glowed with a sickly, sallow light as she reached out and hooked one of her claws on the neck of Monica's tank top, the fabric burning as a result., "... So Beautiful and So... Pure."

"I've Waited For Your Brother For A Very Long Time and I Would Have Him Rule This World With An Iron Fist. Yes, I Think That Would Provide Me With Enough Amusement For At Least A Couple of Eons.," The Mysterious Redhead giggled with a high-pitched screech as her robes shifted., "I Haven't Been This Wet In Ages... I Really Must Have A Closer Look At This Brother of Yours."

The Mysterious Redhead reached toward Monica's beautiful face again but recoiled with a pained hiss as though she had just been burned, Her hand twitched as smoke rose from her singed digits and with a growl she looked back toward the door to Monica's room which radiated a bright red light. The faux wood door almost seemed to melt and disappear into a black pool on the floor and standing in the doorway was a dark silhouette illuminated from behind by an eerie white light.

"Everyone Is So Interested In You... Can You Blame Me For Wanting To See For Myself?"

The Silhouette in the doorway didn't move, didn't waver, it just stood there casting an intimidating white shadow on the floor that moved into the room inch by inch.

The Mysterious Redhead took a hesitant step backward and the shadow encroaching on the room stopped, the sound of ghostly moaning and wailing emanated from the floor, and a sea of haunting red eyes rippled across the surface of the white shadow which resembled in that moment... a shimmering ice-covered lake. It was actually quite beautiful... Well, if you overlook the thousands of unblinking demonic eyes that is.

"I Guess I Must Have Touched A Nerve...," The Mysterious Redhead sighed looking at all those eyes staring up at her., "Perhaps I Should Take This Pawn Off The Board and See What Happens.," The Mysterious Redhead's claws grew an extra two inches as she took a step and leaned toward Monica with her hand out.

The chalk white shadow spread out and glided across the floor with the grinding screech of metal against metal and a blindingly white hot light shone from under the bed, causing The Mysterious Redhead to jerk her hand back.,"So That's Why He Chose You. The One Who Does What Is Even Impossible For An Elder... How Glorious."

The Redhead's amused snickering quickly dried up as The Silhouette In The Doorway stepped forward into the room changing the darkness into a sea of blinding white save for a large dark shadow cast on the wall directly behind The Mysterious Redhead whose sickly green eyes vibrated with undisguised fury.

The Voice that came from The Silhouette was a sound that The World had never heard before and hoped to never hear again. It was both soft and sharp... quiet and loud... smooth and grating. It spoke in only one voice but it contained every language. Every Word carried with it immeasurable physical **** that caused the walls and floor to creak and distort as if some immense pressure were being exerted against them. Each and every word was both crystal clear and wholly unintelligible, Any Human mind trying to make sense of it would quickly be driven mad by it but luckily Monica was sleeping and The Strange Redhead seemed unaffected for the most part. The words may have been impossible to decipher but their meaning couldn't be clearer.

The Mysterious and Dirty-Faced Redhead snarled and gritted her teeth as dark reddish-purple blood oozed from the wound on her face., "It Would Appear That I Have Worn Out My Welcome In This Foul-Smelling, Plebeian-Infested Cesspool of A Realm...," She turned to leave., "... I'll Leave... For Now But... I'll Be Back. Now That I've Found Something Interesting I Won't Give It Up...," The Mysterious Redhead turned back to address The Silhouette and spoke in a low but utterly malicious tone., "... Even To You Father."

The Silhouette wavered but only for a moment.

Before vanishing back into the shadows from whence she came, The Mysterious Redhead looked over to Monica who was still sleeping soundly and smirked., "The Fates Are A Tricky Thing Especially For An Elder But Maybe... Just Maybe He'll Be Able To Save You After All. Either Way It Should Prove... Most Entertaining."

She was gone just like that taking almost all signs including the miasma that had blanketed the room with her.

The Silhouette slowly made its way over to the bed, It's blank featureless face gazing down at a sleeping and unaware Monica. It reached out with its hand and just before touching her face it evaporated like smoke caught in a strong wind. In less than a second it was gone and all was quiet as if Aaron's visit and the strange events that occurred afterward had never happened at all.

Meanwhile Aaron had almost made it back to his room and was braced against the hall wall while breathing heavily., "What Happened?"

"Are You Alright Father...," Came Gog's worried voice through the link., "... Your Brainwaves Are Fluctuating Wildly?"

"I'm Fine Gog...," Aaron said, trying to sound reassuring even as he tried to catch his breath., "... I Must Have Blacked Out For A Second or Two."

"Father, Your Brainwaves Have Been Fluctuating For More Than 3 Minutes Now."

"I'm Fine I Just Got A Little Excited and Exerted Myself More Than I Should Have. I Raced All The Way To Monica's Room Because I Was So Worried and Now That The Adrenaline Has Wore Off I'm Feeling The Effects of That Run. I'll Be Fine After I Rest."

"Father, I Don't Thin..."

"Enough Please Gog I'm Tired... I Just Want To Sleep."

Aaron closed the door behind him and collapsed on his bed, unable to stand any longer.

Meanwhile In Monica's Room...

Monica lay on her bed, Her skin awash with a Golden Glow. The bruises on her neck which had long faded from sight flared to life with an Eerie black light that shone from underneath her flawless skin. A slight trickle of blood escaped her right ear as she turned her head.

"You Saved Me... Thank You Big Brother!," Monica blurted out as she tossed and turned, a contented smile adorning her beautiful face.

Aaron was exhausted and collapsed onto his bed face down, and just before he fell asleep he heard a soft but commanding Female voice whisper in his ear., "I Am Proud of You Aareonandrotholestrlonalendros My Son."

And That's How Another Long Day In A Long Series of Long Days In The Life of A Young Man Named Aaron Cross Ended.

Author's Note: The Strange Redhead mentioned in this chapter was intended to be a part of Chapter 145 - The Howling Dark, Part 15 but when I was writing that chapter I had alot going on and I misplaced my notes so a few things slipped my mind and I wound up neglecting to include her but I went back and put her in so if you'd like to catch her first appearance you can go back and check out the aforementioned chapter. She appears near the end in a brief cameo. Sorry for The Inconvenience.