My mom continued to cry into my chest as I put my arm around her, and hugged her tightly. Meanwhile, Cici clung to my other arm, and leaned her head against my shoulder. What she had said really drove home just how much I had truly done, not just for her, but for everyone both back home, and here. My mom had really made me question if I was, or had become a monster, but Cici's words had touched both me and my mom. Everything I had done, was done for the sake of those I held dear, and that helped to ease the burden on my heart.
"You've... really changed a lot, haven't you?" My mom muttered, and I nodded as I squeezed her a bit tighter.
"In some ways, a lot. In other ways, not at all." I replied, unsure of how else to phrase it.
I was still me as far as I was concerned in terms of how much I cared for and valued those close to me, but I was also colder and uncaring towards those I despised. Well, that wasn't necessarily new I guess, but now I was actually able to do something about those people. Killing people like that... rotten to the core of their being, didn't bother me at all. In fact, it felt good, almost like a high. Cici even said as much.
"Eli is a wonderful man, but he doesn't shy away from what needs to be done. It may sound bad to you... but you have nothing to be afraid of."
I felt my mom's tears leaking through the fabric of my shirt. It was a lot to take in all at once. I was changed, I had killed people, I had gained vast power from another world, and I had married a cat girl. Well, that last part was just nice, not really any negative connotations regarding that.
"I don't want to see it..." My mom eventually said after a few moments, "I can tell from how Cici speaks, and how you have acted, that you're still my boy... I'm not sure if I fully agree with it... but I know you wouldn't just hurt someone for no reason... that's not how you are."
I rubbed her back gently.
"I never would... I protect those that need it. I help those that can't help themselves... but that usually means putting an end to some people... for good." I replied, and while my mom didn't say anything, I knew she was trying to accept my words.
"Eli is very kind and loving. I think you can do what's necessary, and still be a good person." Cici said, and her earnest praise and affection for me made my mom's eyes brighten like in one of those animes, before are smiled softly.
"You really found a sweet woman..." My mom said to me as she gazed over at Cici, and then laughed softly, "God, she looks so cute... those ears look so soft." She mumbled the last part so Cici wouldn't hear her, but I don't think she understood just how good my wife's ears were.
Cici blushed furiously despite the situation. It was good to bring some levity to into the mix, but that still didn't change the fact of what had to be done. The more I thought about what I saw today, and what I heard from my mom... it made my rage surge once again.
"He should be here soon." I said suddenly, making my mom shiver, and Cici tense, "Mom... do you have anything you want to say to him?"
She shook her head no so fast at my words, and just thinking about him clearly scared her given the look on her face.
"No... never again... I don't want to see him or hear his voice..." She said, then looked at me with trembling lips, "But I dont want to see... I don't... want to see what you are going to do."
"I understand." I replied gently.
I was going to kill him. He deserved no less as I was concerned, and weirdly enough, I feel like my mom was grudgingly accepting that. Honestly, I feel like Cici helped a lot with that. She explained what happened to her in great detail, and I bet even the most steadfast pacifist in this world wouldn't be upset over the deaths of a bunch of murderers and rapists. Even my mom couldn't hide the pain and disgust that Cici's story put on her face.
What was equally as important, was that Cici showed herself to my mom fully. She showed her that she had cat features, she told her about the other world, and explained how it had also changed me. I didn't understand it at first, but now I could see the point. It was a major extension of trust that she was giving to my mom, and showing her something so different and so profound seemed to go a long way in earning a large amount of that trust from my mom.
I hadn't said anything mainly because there was a lot to tell her, and I'd rather wait until we could relax at my home in the other world before telling her everything. This goddamn place... it was not the place where I wanted to tell her all of this. Many of the things I wanted to tell her were wonderful, and personal, and this place would sully that in my eyes. After thinking about what I should do for a moment, I looked to Cici.
"Honey, do you remember the path we took to get here?" I asked, and Cici tilted her head at me, and nodded, "Do you think you could take my mom back to the apartment?"
It was a selfish request in many ways. I didn't want my mom to have to see the violence I was going to enact, and I didn't want her to be afraid of Marcus any longer. The best way to avoid that would be for her to not be here all together. I was also asking a lot of Cici, and I knew she wanted to be here for me, but I also didn't want her to see everything I was going to do. I was angry, and I didn't want her to have to see that part of me again if it could be helped. Cici stared deep into my eyes, my own pleading with her, before slowly, her eyes softened and she nodded.
"Of course. I'll get her back safely." She said, and I smiled.
I stood up, and helped both women to their feet.
"Baby... are you sure this is what you want to do?" My mom asked me, and I nodded firmly without hesitation, and I put my arms around her in a fierce hug.
"This time, please let me protect you." I said, causing my mom to let out a small sob as she clutched at me, "I love you mom. It'll be okay."
"I love you too my sweet boy." She said, making me smile. Even now, she still called me that. It warmed my currently darkened heart.
After our hug ended, and wrapped my arms around Cici, and held her to me, before pulling back and staring into her eyes.
"Thank you for doing this. I'm sorry... I'm being selfish." I said, and she answered by leaning up and giving me a deep kiss.
"I understand. This is something you want to do alone. While I would love to see you putting him in his place... I also really don't care to meet this man, from everything I heard." She said, and I smiled again as I pulled her to my chest again, and rubbed her head, making her purr.
"Love you." I said, which made Cici smile into my chest.
"Love you." She replied, before I let her go.
My mom had a soft look in her eyes as she studied us, but she actually looked happy all things considered. First, I waited for her to go to her room, and change her clothes so she at least didn't look like she was homeless. After that, I walked them to the door and watched them leave. Once they rounded the corner of the street, and were out of sight, I walked back inside, and got ready.
■ ■ ■
Marcus pulled into the driveway, his head cloudy as he got out of the car, and walked towards the front door. He had done it again. He was paid by a local gang to look the other way as they broke into someone's home, and killed a man for reasons he did not know. He had grown so numb to it at this point, and even though he didn't need to do these things anymore, the money was too good to pass up. He was going to hell for sure, but that had already been made clear long ago.
As he got to the door, he felt that something was off. He turned the doorknob, forgetting to unlock it entirely, only to freeze when the door clicked, and opened without him needing to unlock it.
"What the..." He said, immediately drawing his service pistol, and carefully walking inside.
The place was... the air felt odd inside of his home. He searched the first floor slowly, first the living room, then the adjoining hallways, but could find nothing. He soon made his way into the kitchen, and froze when he got to the back, noticing that the basement door had been broken off of its hinges and thrown to the ground. He bolted and raced down the stairs. Once he got to the bottom, he flipped on the lights, and then froze when he looked at the prison he had built downstairs to keep his unruly wife inside.
The door to said prison was laying on the ground, the bars bent and broken. That was surprising enough, but what really surprised him was the form sitting on the bed, staring at him menacingly with glowing red eyes. A familiar feeling of dread settled over him as the absolutely large man gave him an evil looking grin.
"Marcus, it's so good to see you."