The morning light was stronger when Shu finally woke. She felt heavy, her mind still clouded with the remnants of her late-night thoughts. She got up, the weight of the previous day pressing down on her. When she came into the kitchen, the scene that greeted her was domestic, almost jarringly so.
Roxy was already at the dining table, happily munching on pasta, her brow furrowed in concentration as she navigated the twirls on her fork. And Raven was there, standing by the stove, a gentle smile on his face as he watched his daughter. He had made pasta.
He gathered his courage, his voice a little hesitant. "I made Margarita pasta," he said, looking at Shu, a question in his eyes. "Try it. Don't you like it?"
Shu stood in the doorway for a moment, watching them. The normalcy of it all was almost unbearable. She forced a composure she didn't feel. She walked to the table, her movements deliberate, and sat down opposite Roxy.
"Now, I don't like to eat the same food as before," she said, her voice a little too sharp, a little too loud. She avoided Raven's gaze. "I like to make it with my own hands now." She pointedly didn't look at the pasta. "So you don't have to worry. I'll arrange my own breakfast."
She turned to Roxy, her voice softening slightly, but still carrying a weight that felt heavier than usual. "And Roxy, I have something to talk to you. Come to my room."
Raven's posture stiffened. He stepped forward, his silver hair catching the morning light. "Look, Shu," he said, his voice strained, "I came here of my own free will. Roxy didn't bring me. So, don't scold her." He swallowed hard, his eyes pleading. "I'm sorry… if you tell me to leave, I'll leave."
Shu turned her sharp gaze on Raven, her eyes narrowed. "Look, Raven," she said, her voice stern, devoid of warmth, "I am not going to talk to you about this. And I didn't say you can't stay. You can definitely stay in your house." She paused, her gaze shifting back to Roxy. "If your daughter won't be with you, then she definitely won't be with anyone else, right?" She looked back at Raven, a cold, ironic smile playing on her lips. "Roxy is your daughter. She is also my daughter. I can tell her some things in secret, I hope I still have that right for now, don't I? If not, then tell me, I will not say anything."
Raven flinched at her words. He stammered, "No, no, I didn't say anything like that. You can say whatever you want to Roxy. I just said… don't scold her."
Shu's smile twisted into something mocking, devoid of humour ex. She laughed, a short, brittle sound. "After four years, you remembered that it's not right to scold your daughter. I really, Raven, you are just making me laugh with these strange words of yours. Where were you when I was pregnant with Roxy? Where were you when Roxy just learned to walk? Where were you when I used to hold Roxy in my arms all night, trying to put her to sleep? Do you have any answers, Raven? Do you not? Then don't talk."
Tears welled up in Roxy's eyes. Her lower lip trembled. "Mom…" she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "Don't talk to Dad like that." She pushed her plate away, the pasta forgotten. "Dad was with me all my life… as a guardian angel."
Shu's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.
Roxy's voice grew stronger, fuelled by her distress. "When I first learned to walk, Mom, Dad came when you were sleeping. Mom, Dad came on my first day of school. Mom, he saw me in my new school uniform. He also said… he also said, 'Dad, it's nice to see me.'" Tears streamed down Roxy's face now, but she didn't stop. She had been holding this secret, this hidden love, for so long.
Shu's face paled. Her voice rose, cracking with disbelief and fury. "Then everyone knows except me? Everyone knows about this… only I was in the dark?" She pointed a trembling finger at Roxy. "So you will never talk to me, Mom, again, Roxy."
Roxy's small face crumpled. "Mom, you are so bad!" she sobbed, her voice rising to a wail. "There is no mother like you in the world!"
The words hung in the air, sharp and painful. Shu froze, as if struck. She stood there like a statue, the shock of Roxy's words ripping through her carefully constructed façade.
Raven saw the devastation in Shu's eyes, the raw pain behind the anger. He knew Roxy had gone too far, the innocent defence turning into an unintended weapon. He gently cupped Roxy's face. "Honey," he began, his voice soft, pleading.
But Roxy shook her head, pulling away from his touch. She turned back to Shu, her tears flowing freely. "Dad left us for you, Mom!" she declared, her voice loud and clear. "Yes, this is the truth. You are very rude to Dad. The way you are treating Dad now, Dad will leave again! You don't want Dad to be with us, right, Mom? You are such a bad mother!" Roxy's voice broke, and she screamed, "I won't call you Mom! I won't call you Mom!"
Shu stared at Roxy, her eyes wide with shock and hurt. Raven watched, his heart aching for both of them. He could see the tears welling up in Shu's eyes, the effort she was making to hold them back.
"Roxy, shut up!" Raven's voice boomed through the kitchen, startling both Shu and Roxy. "Don't forget that she is your mother! Your mother was with you all these years when I was away. She kept you safe. Don't forget that. And don't talk to your mother like this, honey. She will be in pain, won't she?"
Roxy sniffled, looking at Raven with tear-filled eyes. "But Father, didn't mother tell you a lot? Mother has a lot of complaints against me, honey." Raven looked at Shu, searching her face. Shu turned away, her gaze fixed on some distant point, still as a statue.
In the doorway, Jihu, Fang, Ash, and Ri stood, silent witnesses to the raw family drama unfolding before them. They had been there for a while, drawn by the raised voices, but unsure of how to intervene. They exchanged worried glances, sensing the deep wounds being reopened.
Shu moved suddenly. She turned and walked swiftly towards her room. She emerged moments later, clutching her wallet. Without a word, without looking back, she strode towards the front door and out into the morning light. Raven started forward, intending to follow her, to stop her, to say something, anything to repair the damage. But when he reached the doorway, Shu was gone. Vanished. Like mist in the morning sun. He knew why. Shu was a vampire now, just like him. He had turned her, three years ago, in a desperate attempt to save her life. Now she was gone, a creature of speed and shadow, a creature he had created, and a woman he had deeply hurt. The silence in the house after her departure was deafening, broken only by Roxy's quiet sobs.
Raven's breath hitched in his chest as he stepped back into the house, empty handed. He had searched the garden, the surrounding woods, even the old willow tree by the creek – Shu was nowhere to be found. His heart sank further as he heard the muffled sobs emanating from the living room. Pushing open the door, he found Roxy slumped on the sofa, tears streaming down her little face, a storm of grief raging within her. Ri, Jihu, Fang, and Ash were already there, their faces etched with concern, and even Faith, usually so composed, had tears welling in her eyes, mirroring Roxy's distress.
Seeing his daughter's despair, Raven's own worries momentarily receded. He crossed the room in a few strides and knelt beside Roxy, enveloping her small frame in a comforting hug. "My darling daughter," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion, "you didn't make your mother suffer like that, did you?" He hoped to soothe her, but instead, his words seemed to amplify her pain.
Faith, her own tears now freely flowing, gently touched Roxy's arm. "Roxy, you didn't make Shaun like that. She… she loves you so much."
Roxy looked up at Faith, her eyes red and swollen. "But she was talking bad to my father!" she choked out, her voice trembling with indignation. "That's why I said those things."
Faith softly argued, "But Roxy, remember when your father wasn't here? When there was no 'Mr.', Shaun took care of you. She was always there. Have you forgotten all that? Don't you know how much Shaun loves you?"
Jihu, ever patient, sat beside Roxy and tried to reason with her. "Roxy, your mother loves you and your father both. Sometimes, we say things we don't really mean when we're upset, but…" He trailed off as Roxy shook her head vehemently, cutting him off.
"No! Mommy was wrong! She made father sad. I will not talk to my mother anymore!" Her small voice was filled with a stubborn resolve that mirrored Raven's own intensity.
Fang and Ash chimed in too, their attempts to reason with Roxy proving just as futile. She remained locked in her grief and anger, repeating her accusations against Shu and her declaration of silence. Raven watched the scene unfold, a knot of anxiety tightening in his stomach. He had to reach Roxy, to make her understand, somehow.
Taking a deep breath, he pulled back slightly, looking directly into Roxy's tear-filled eyes. "Roxy," he began calmly, "remember yesterday, when I was telling you the story of Beauty and the Beast?"
Roxy hiccupped, her sobs momentarily subsiding, curiosity momentarily breaking through her pain. "Yes," she whispered, her gaze fixed on his.
"Do you know who is the Beast in my story?" Raven asked softly.
Roxy sniffled, considering the question. "The… the monster?"
Raven nodded, his expression gentle. "Yes, the monster. And in my story, the Beast is me. And Beauty… Beauty is your mother."
Roxy's eyes widened slightly, her tears slowing. She was listening now, captivated by the familiar tale with a new, personal twist.
Raven continued, his voice a soothing murmur. "The loneliness of a beast, Roxy, is a heavy thing. It's filled with shadows and emptiness. But then… Beauty comes into my life. And everything changes. Love fills the shadows."
He paused, letting his words sink in. "Do you know why I left this evening, Roxy? What you said to your mother… yes, maybe your mother was hurt, but you were right to tell her how you felt. But I didn't leave because of your mother's words, darling. I left for your mother."
Roxy's brow furrowed. "But why, father? Why did you leave for Mommy?"
Raven's voice dropped, becoming serious, tinged with a sorrowful undertone. "Seven years ago, there was a big war in our kingdom, Roxy. You know, Uncle Fang, Uncle Jihu and I… we used to live in a beautiful place called Freedonia. But when we came to Earth, we met three wonderful girls. Aunt Ri, your mother, and Aunt Ash. And you know what, Roxy? These three beauties…" he smiled faintly, "they turned us three beasts into humans."
Faith and even Roxy were now listening with rapt attention, drawn into this unexpected family history. It was, after all, their parents' story.
"We three boys," Raven continued, "we are not truly human, you know that, don't you? Didn't your mother tell you when you were little that you shouldn't show your powers outside?"
Roxy nodded slowly. "Yes, Mommy said."
"But your mother, Aunt Ri, and Aunt Ash, they were all human. They loved us… and they sacrificed a lot for us. They can never return to the human world, Roxy. But they stayed here, with us. Your mother, Roxy… you know how much she sacrificed for me?" He looked at Roxy intently. "Seven years ago, during that war, your mother was badly injured trying to save me. For almost three years, she was lying in bed, helpless. You know, Roxy, it was I who made your mother a vampire. On my own will. I didn't even ask if she wanted it. I just… I couldn't bear to lose her."
His voice was heavy with regret. "Your mother," he continued, his voice laced with pain, "she never once raised a finger at me, never accused me of anything, never asked, 'Why did you turn me into this… this blood-sucking beast?' What more do you want me to take from your mother, Roxy?"
He looked at Roxy, pleading for understanding. "Even after Shu completely forgot me, lost her memories, your mother… she just asked for time from me. Time to remember. But if I was always around, busy with my work, I was afraid… afraid I would do something, anything, that would make her lose trust in me again. But when she finally remembered everything, when she came back to me… I didn't have the courage to just go and stand before her and say, 'Shu, please accept me.' It's not that simple, Roxy."
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I know, Roxy, you want your parents to be together, to always be with you. But you also have to understand, your mother has a lot of pride, Roxy. Seven years of pride. It's not something you can break down quickly, is it?"
He looked at Roxy, his expression softening. "I won't tell you anything more, Roxy. I'll just say one thing. When your mother returns… go to her, and tell her you're sorry. Because I don't want everything Shu has sacrificed, everything she's endured for you, to be for nothing. And I don't want you to grow up without gratitude for her love."
Raven fell silent, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the room. He didn't know what else he could say. He was lost, unsure of how to find Shu, of how to fix the rift that had opened between them, and now, the rift between Roxy and her mother too. He sank onto a nearby chair, burying his face in his hands, exhaustion washing over him. He hadn't realised how much spiritual energy he had been expending, trying to locate Shu, and now, he was feeling the drain.
Jihu, sensing Raven's distress, subtly nudged him. "Raven, come with me for a moment, I need to talk to you about something." He led Raven into the next room, out of earshot of the others. Once inside, Jihu placed a hand on Raven's shoulder, channelling healing energy into him. Outside, the others assumed Jihu was offering Raven comfort, discussing private matters.
After a few minutes, Raven and Jihu emerged, Raven appearing slightly more composed. As they stepped back into the living room, Ri approached Raven, her expression serious. "Raven," she said quietly, "I know where Shu might have gone."
Raven's head snapped up, hope flickering in his eyes. "You do?"
Ri nodded. "It's just a feeling, but… I think I know. You should go there right now."
Without hesitation, Raven turned to leave. As he reached the doorway, a small hand tugged at his shirt. He looked down to see Roxy, her eyes still red-rimmed but now filled with a different kind of urgency.
"Dad," she said, her voice small but firm, "I'm coming with you. I behaved very badly to Mommy. I won't leave her alone. Not like this."
A wave of warmth washed over Raven. He scooped Roxy into his arms, holding her close. "Alright, little one," he murmured, a faint smile gracing his lips for the first time that evening. "Let's go find your mother together." And with Roxy nestled securely in his arms, Raven stepped out into the night, determined to find Shu and mend the broken threads of their family.