My mom looked at me strangely, like she both thought that was a silly question, and was genuinely confused as to what I meant.
"Mom... the things you've told me, the things I've witnessed... the things I've heard. Would it upset you if Marcus were to disappear? He won't be able to hurt another person ever again." I said, leaving my decision that I already made unsaid.
My mom stared at me for a second, looking between me and Cici, like my wife would have the answers she sought. Cici just sat there patiently, a gentle smile on her face as she regarded my mother.
"Honey... I hate everything that he has become... never seeing him again would be a blessing... and I wouldn't lose sleep if he just dropped dead." She said, and I actually sighed in relief.
"Good. That makes me feel better." I said, and the tone was so casual that my mom studied me for a moment, before she finally seemed to understand what I was talking about, and her eyes widened.
"ELI! Are you... are you talking about killing him??" She asked me, her voice becoming high pitched.
I winced from the concern in her tone, but I nodded, the thought of killing someone like him not even phasing me.
"I am. He's hurt far too many people. You are are the one that has endured it for so long, and for a while, I was unable to do anything to help you..."
"BUT YOU CAN'T JUST MURDER SOMEONE! IT'S WRONG! YOU CAN'T-" She said, and began to tear up as ahe became unable to speak.
"Mom, there's a lot I want to tell you, but you should know this much. I've already killed plenty of people. People like Marcus are evil, mom, and there's only one way to truly stop them." I said, my tone sounding rather calm despite the topic.
My mom looked at me in shock, like she either didn't believe me or didn't want to believe me. I couldn't lie to my mother... and noflt at least telling her of my plans felt wrong.
"Eli... please no... you're not..." She said, unable to finish the words.
"Mom, I love you, and I'll do anything it takes to protect you. Just like I will do with Cici. Like I have already done with Cici." I said, and that caused my mom to look at Cici, her gaze almost appearing judgemental.
"IS MY SON A KILLER BECAUSE OF YOU?" My mom suddenly screamed at Cici, making my wife jump, and her face looked like she had actually been slapped. Tears began forming in her eyes from the suddenly hostility.
"Mom!" I yelled, but I did my best to keep my cool, even if anyone yelling at Cici pissed me off. Unfortunately, the one yelling at her was the other woman I loved most in both worlds, so I was torn.
"Yes..." Cici suddenly said, startling both me and making my mom's face scrunch up in anger. Before my mom could begin yelling again, Cici continued.
"People attacked my home, and killed a bunch of the people I knew. They took many people as prisoners, either for labor or as sex slaves. I ran away, and that's when I met Eli... and he helped me. He made me see that there were still good people out there that weren't like me... and I began to fall for him."
My mom actually stared at Cici in shock as she spoke, as she clearly didn't expect to hear the words that Cici was telling her. Her face looked conflicted, but a lot of the anger she has been showing seemed to be disappearing. Cici continued her story.
"We went back to my home, and all we found was devastation and the bodies of so many people... people I saw as friends... and the people that did these things... they were still there. I watched helplessly as they stabbed Eli so many times... there was so much blood..." Cici said, her body shaking as her tears fell like rivers.
I pulled her into me, and began to slow run my hands through her hair. She buried her face into the crook of my neck as she cried.
"Cici... you don't have to say any of this... I know it's painful..." I muttered to her, but she shook her head as she did her best to compose herself.
"No... she should know." Cici said, her bright green eyes now burning with determination, and then she shocked both me and my mom when she suddenly grew her ears back on the top of her head, with her tail coming next, with that appendage wrapping possessively around my arm.
"W-w-what is..." My mom asked, staring disbelievingly at my wife's twitching cat ears, and her long tail that wiggled as gripped my bicep.
I was shocked that Cici decided to show herself to my mom. I figured we'd wait until we left Earth, but then again, I guess it made sense. I saw the benefit of getting her used to it now, I was just wondering why she decided to do it now. Cici continued after a moment.
"Mrs. Crosse... I come from another world. In my world, magic exists, monsters exist, and people like me exist. Differing Beastkin of all kinds. My home is a village in Nagalise, that's the name of my world, and although it has no name, it has been my home and the home of those like me for many, many years. The reason Eli is better, and the reason he is how he is now, is because my world gave him strength, and that strength saved his life. Not just in curing him, but making him the strong man he is now. The man that I am proud to call my husband." Cici said, he words invoking a strong sense of love and pride inside of me.
"You... have cat ears..." My mom mumbled, then looked at the cute white tail curled around my arm, "and a tail..."
"I do. Your son risked his life to save me and my people. Someone like me... who was from another world, and who looked so much different... I fell in love with Eli because he is a kind and wonderful man. A man who didn't hesitate to go back to my world to try and help me... a man who almost died protecting me... a man who stormed into a large town all by himself, and who save my family, the people of my village, and then me! This sick and evil man chained me to a bed... and he tried to... he..."
Cici began to sob as the memories hit her, and I soothed her again, gently stroking her hair, and even rubbed one of her ears affectionately. I think I understood what she was doing, so I just waited patiently as I said calming words to her, and held her to me. My mom had no words, and it looked like she was having an internal battle with herself. I swear, my kitten knew what she was doing, and I was proud of her. After another moment, she continued.
"Yes, Eli had to kill many people to do this... yet he did it to save us. The people he killed were scum... they were evil... sexual deviants, and Eli did so anyways. And I knew he didn't want to have to do it, yet he did. He did what he had to do to save us, and that's make makes him a good man! Some people will not stop... some people are too far gone... too evil. He makes the hard choices others don't want to make for the good of others, and I don't appreciate you saying those things about him or about me without understanding everything we've been through! How can you even say the things you did when you've been through so much yourself?? Eli came back here for you, because he loves you! You may see what he has done as wrong, but he does it to protect you, and to protect others!" Cici yelled, before taking in a deep breath, and smiling softly as tears fell from her eyes, "That's the kind of man Eli is... a kind and sweet man who will do whatever it takes to protect those he loves. He's never once hurt someone who didn't deserve it. Some people... are simply too dangerous to let live. The man who took me, he would have used and abused me until I dropped dead... but now he can't hurt anyone ever again."
My mom didn't say anything, but Cici's words seemed to have a very strong effect on her. She eventually lowered her head, and closed her eyes, tears falling to the floor below her. Soon though, she leaned forward, and rested her head on my chest as she began to sob in earnest.