JP - Riley Fussing over the Ruler of the Hellscape

“I’d give my life for them and you” He replied “are you happy here, eating properly, and getting plenty of rest?”

“I take care of myself,” She answered and looked away. “I wouldn’t say I’m happy, though…that’s something I haven’t felt for a very long time. Seeing you here and now is the closest to happy I have felt since Shimo left me.”

Riley nodded “I know you want to stay here but can you at least visit, Amber has grown so much, River misses you, and I’m pretty sure Alex and Susi will be expecting soon.”

“I suppose I can…try.” Esther said and hugged herself, looking away. Her hair had grown long and was in a long braid while she was in a strange dress that showed off more skin than necessary, but in a world all her own, it rarely mattered. There were no shoes upon her feet and the age in her eyes was a stark reminder of the dilation in time with this place. She also had new scars, some jagged and others almost looking like intricate designs etched into her skin.

A lot may have happened for the group in the past five years, but she had endured sixty and it had been a lot of ups and downs for the woman.

"I know you're scared but we are family we'd never abandon you" he replied placing a hand on her shoulder.

“I know, Papa…I’m just…” Esther didn’t know what to say as she looked away, guilt eating at her. “I’ve become far stronger than I used to be and I just don’t want to harm anyone…I don’t even want to risk falling in love again. I…I finally let go of his soul about ten years ago…it still feels like I had something ripped out of me.”

"It's because you truly loved it's the same way i feel about your mother and how Lyle felt about Juliet" Riley replied rubbing her back.

“I still don’t understand why he would suddenly leave me like that?” Esther said before shaking her head. “Enough about my misery…what have you all been up to?”

"Mostly been on the run for the past 5 years since the village fell wasn't always bad there were some fun parts of it too." Riley said "we just recently rescued Susi and the others from that facility and I'm sure you can imagine what her and Alex have been up to. Besides that finding Anastasia has been interesting to say the least."

“She looks like Loreen…” Esther commented. “Is she one of her, you know, androids? I know she made a lot of ‘em…still, the real Loreen is out there somewhere in hiding.”

“I’m not sure but I know she’s not Loreen after Thrane took everything from her” he replied his heart breaking for her “what Canestone did to her she didn’t deserve that.”

“I feel no ill intent from her and she has a pure soul, Papa…” Esther said as she held up a hand and a soft glowing orb appeared above her palm. “That is not Loreen in there…but, as you call her, Anastasia. Whoever Loreen was in that body is long gone…though…Papa, I felt someone else follow you here…”

“Is it Thrane?” Riley asked feeling on edge. The last thing he wanted was for that monster was to find them.

Esther shook her head. “No…Nero.”

Riley nodded “poor kid has been put through hell because of Thrane.”

“Yes, he does seem more…broken.” Esther admitted. “He’s far younger, too. I’m assuming he’s a rebirth of the original? He also seems a bit more…child-like…he thinks of fighting as playing…”

“Seems a bit tougher as well I wasn’t pulling my punches” Riley admitted “what should we do??”

“I have my shadows distracting him, but he is slowly trying to make his way here…he can sense my power.” Esther explained and sighed heavily. “I can easily kill him, but…” She obviously did not want to.

“If it was the old Nero I’d consider it since little Flame isn’t here anymore” Riley admitted “he’s just a kid that needs proper guidance.”

“Yes, he does…he needs to know what love is.” Esther fiddled with a piece of fabric of her dress. “Like what you did for me…but, he is going to need to be worn down and stopped before we can do anything. Nero is as stubborn and powerful as ever, it seems…”

Riley smiled “Since I’m lacking a spray bottle I’m going to have to knock some sense into him.”

“You should heal first while you can, though,” Esther said, crossing her arms now. She gave him a stern look.

Riley nodded and laid back down “Is Anastasia alright can you move her closer so I can see her?”

"I'll have her brought into the room for you." Esther replied. "Rest."

Riley nodded and kissed the top of her head before laying down and waiting.

Esther let Riley rest while she instructed some shadows to get Anastasia. They would soon be wheeling the bed she was on into the room and settled it next to Riley’s. Locking it in place, the shadows left with soft mutters and reminders to get more salves prepared for the injuries.

Watching them go, Esther moved a chair between the beds and waits for the pair to wake up.

Riley woke up for a moment noticing Anastasia was there. Reaching out he gently pulled her into his arms "I'm so sorry" he whispered.

Anastasia grimaced and curled up against Riley, shedding fresh tears. “Riley, it hurt…it hurt so much when he…he…”