Seeing how happy they were brought tears to my eyes. I felt an enormous pang of guilt. When was the last time Halo, Angel and I were that happy together? Certainly not the months leading up to the incident. Not the months we spent in shaky tension, wondering when the fragile balance was finally going to shatter.
And definitely not the night where I turned on Halo, thrusting him towards the Knights for penance, and ruining our family.
Unable to stand the beautiful sight of Angel’s new family any longer, I turned away, ashamed of myself.
“Here you go. Sorry for the wait,” Nate said, setting the drink on the table. “Whoa. Hey, you okay, man?”
“Fine,” I muttered, quickly rubbing the tears away. “Thanks, and sorry, but I think I should get going.”
Nate blinked as I stood and slapped twice the amount of cash on the table before I hurried out of the bar.
The dam of guilt and sadness managed to hold until I’d ran away from the bar, and finally broke when I was alone on the pier. I couldn’t hold it back any longer - I cried and swore and let myselfhatemyself. These were the consequences of my actions, and I needed to accept them, I knew that. But it was damnedhard.
Collapsing into a bench, I continued to sob quietly until the tears and emotions ran dry, like a riverbed scorched by the sun. Weakly I wiped my own tears. I didn’t know if it was a good or bad thing that Halo wasn’t here right now.
Kass?
A voice in the back of my head made me look over my shoulder, but nobody was there. Then I realized it was Halo’s voice speaking to me in our mental link, like he did before. I shut my eyes to reply.
I’m here,I said.
Kass, are you okay? I just felt this huge rush of emotion coming from you,Halo said, concerned.
Yeah,I said.Just something that’s been a long time coming.
I could practically hear the worried look on his face.Did something happen?
I saw Angel. With her new parents.I sighed shakily.Halo, she… She was so, so happy. And Scar and Ryu, they were happy, too.
The link went silent. Then, Halo’s quiet voice said,Yeah.
A pregnant pause hung between us before Halo spoke again.Kass… I know you probably don’t want to hear this, but…
I knew what Halo was going to say before he said it. Something about the mental link amplified our emotional connection, and the decision seemed to pulse with a life of its own.
I know,I replied.It’s horrible, and I hate it, but at the same time… It’s what she needs. I saw it in her eyes. They sparkled, Halo. And Ryu and Scar - their eyes were so kind. They love Angel. They would die for her.
Halo’s voice tightened with emotion, but I could hear his sad smile.Then… We’re in agreement?
Yes.I exhaled.Scar and Ryu… They should keep Angel. They’re her parents now.
The decision was made. An intense, physical longing suddenly struck me.
I wish you were here right now,I told Halo.I miss you so much.
I could tell Halo was crying silent tears now.I miss you more. Soon, Kass. We’ll be together soon. I can already feel my magic growing.
Good,I said.I won’t abandon you and our child. I’m here, in our mental link, anytime you need me.
I love you, Kassius.
My heart swelled with intense affection.I love you, too, Halo.
The mental link began to fade until I opened my eyes and returned to the physical world. The dark pond stretched out before me, reflecting a thousand stars and white moon in the sky above.
My tears dried and I stared out into the black sky, fuelled with determination.
I had been the one to rip our family apart once. But now, I was going to be the one to put it back together.
