#Marnie Roux Colt

[zerablackwell]

Chapter 3: Seeing a Ghost

Opening her eyes, she was sitting in a clearing in front of her mother. Unlike Zera, Marnie's purple hair fell in curls framing her face, her blue eyes ironically shining with life. Marnie cupped Zera's face, giving her a warm smile. "Ça va Colombe?"

"Fine Mother, but I do have questions..."

Marnie smiled and nodded, patting the spot beside her, "Of course Colombe." Zera giggled lightly and moved to sit next to her mother who began to braid her hair. "First...tell me, darling. How have you been? How has your father been treating you? Not too harshly I hope."

"No Maman, he just hasn't been too forthcoming with answers I'd like. Per usual..." Zera pouted and her mother giggled.

"Your father is a stubborn man; it takes time to peel back the layers for him to open up. Be patient...it is a virtue after all."

Zera scoffed, "When have you known me to virtuous Maman?"

"Come now Colombe, things would be much easier for you. If only you were a bit less like your father." Marnie reached over to push Zera's hair out of her face and back into the braid.

Zera looked at their surroundings, they sat on a beach looking out at a beautiful sunset. "I'll be honest, we just can't see the beauty in things like you do Mother..."

At this, Marnie was silent for a long moment, "I'm sorry I wasn't there for you..."

Zera gave a weak laugh, "You can't be blamed for being dead. There was never anything you could have done."

Marnie gently kissed the crown of her daughter's head, lingering for a moment before finishing off the braid. "I wish you weren't so pessimistic...you get it from your father."

"There are many things I get from him." Zera pointed out as she turned to face her mother who had a sad smile on her face.

"That there are, but I love you both even if you two drive me crazy." Marnie giggled softly, cupping her daughter's face as she stared at her eyes. "You two always push each other too far, if only I was beside you both..."

"You are Maman," Zera's gaze softened as she looked at her mother. "You are always with us, in my heart and with Father's. At least I think he has one."

Marnie laughed as she embraced her tightly, hiding her head in Zera's hair, closing her eyes and enjoying the moment. "I am so blessed to have such an amazing family..."

Zera smiled up at Marnie and shook her head, "Father's lucky he was able to love you. I'm lucky to have been able to meet you, even if it's like this." Zera leaned against her, then looked up at the starry sky. "You really like sunsets, don't you?"

Marnie giggled and nodded, "Yes I do, they're beautiful. What's the word used now? Cliché? I know it's a cliché, but just look at the view."

The two stared at the starlit sky and smiled at its loveliness, Zera would be lying if she didn't admit the stars were calming. "It is beautiful...Father did a good job with this place."

"Your father knows me well." There was a longing in her eyes, a distant look on her face as she stared off into the colorful sky. "Colombe?"

"Yes, Mother?"

"Even though I'm not around. Promise to help keep your father on the right path. I'm not fully around, and half the time he forgets that I'm real. He doesn't always listen to me." Zera looked at her, "I shouldn't be asking this of you, but he really doesn't have anyone else...he won't listen to Elijah. Especially not to Aviana, the poor thing."

Zera looked curiously towards Marnie, "What do you mean by that?"

Marnie frowned, "I'm sorry Colombe... Aviana is someone who your father took in. It was a request I convinced him to fulfill. She's unfortunately always been pushed to the side by Azazel, despite my efforts."

"Her family gave her up?"

At this, Marnie paused and tilted her head from side to side thoughtfully, "Yes, the family did have moments where they were cruel."

Zera nodded, biting her lip before asking, "You have met Aviana's family, but what about Father's? Did he ever talk about them?"

"I actually did meet some of his family, not everyone though."

"Then what were they like?"

Marnie hummed softly for a moment, "Well, his mother was a very kind woman, Seth was funny, but I never met his father. His mother thought it for the best until a later date, which never came."

"Why is that?"

"Our union was never to be blessed, my parents long deceased and many of the archangels did not approve. He wanted to elope, but I insisted that we stay. He had duties to his family, and I was not going to be the reason he ran from it all." Marnie explained as she gently ran a hand through Zera's hair, pulling her in for a hug. "I hold no ill will towards them, they are a traditional bunch. Humans and angels were never even thought of to come together in such a manner."

Zera shook her head, "You never cease to surprise me, mother."

"Why is that Colombe?"

"Your kindness knows no bounds; Father is petty even if he won't admit it. Then there's you, always forgiving towards others." She explained, looking up at her mother who smiled.

"That is why your father and I matched so well; I was always able to reign him in. Even now that he pretends to be some wild beast, he has me chirping in his ear to bring him back down." Marnie replied.

"Mother?"

"Yes?"

"Do you know what Heaven is like?"

There was a long silence, "No, I don't. I remain by your father's side, I always have."

"Do you ever want to go to Heaven?"

Marnie hesitated before answering, "No...No I would rather be here, with you and your father."

Zera frowned deeply, "I never pegged you as a liar Maman."

"I love your father Colombe...I just wish that things would be easier, for all of our sakes..." Marnie sighed, closing her eyes. Zera shook her head, taking her mother's hand in both of her own. "You don't need to be exposed to all this..."

"We cannot change the past, what is done is done Maman." Zera looked up at her, offering a reassuring smile, despite heavy air lingering between them. "I love you Maman..."

"Et je t'aime aussi ma petite Colombe. » She smiled sadly, pulling her daughter in for a hug. She hummed a soft melody that easing the tension that hung between them, Zera could feel herself practically melt into her Mother's hold.

"Maman?"

"Oui?"

"Do you know if Father ever mentioned someone named Madeline?"

Marnie tensed up at this, her face written with a deep sadness that instantly caused her eyes to well up with tears. She covered mouth, muffling a sob as she slowly shook her head. "I'm... I'm sorry. I..." She choked out before burying her face in her hands.

Zera completely caught off guard from this sudden change in her mother's demeanor. "Mother? What's wrong?" She gripped Marnie's shoulders who immediately pulled away. Their surroundings began to blur and fade to black as Zera continued to cry out to her distraught mother began to say something she couldn't hear.

Zera awoke with a start, she looked around frantically seeing Ace clearly upset by the sudden and rude awakening. Shakily, she pulled Ace into a tight hug and let out a deep breath. After calming her nerves, she got up and checked the time. "3 a.m., of course."

Ace then hopped off the bed and vanished in a burst of flames mid-air. She pouted, "Fine then, leave." Zera got out of bed and put on a silk mauve robe. She left her room and walked down the stairs, making her way to the kitchen and opened the fridge.

"Grabbing a midnight snack?" Aviana opened her piercing jade eyes, slit irises larger than usual.

Zera looked up from the fridge to find her friend sitting on the counter with one leg over the other. "Mhmm... I couldn't really sleep, then I began to feel a bit peckish."

"I thought you were spending time with your Mother?" Aviana tilted her head curiously.

The younger nodded and closed the fridge, looking to Aviana. "Yes, but Ace decided to wake me up before he left, I love him but not his habits."

Aviana's lips twitched in annoyance at the mention of Ace, Zera pouted slightly. "So, Ace went hunting then?"

"I believe so, otherwise I will not be letting him into my room for a week."

Aviana got down from the counter and untied her ponytail, "You don't have school, tomorrow right?"

"You are correct."

"Then let's watch some TV. We could watch a movie to pass the rest of the night." Aviana suggested as she began to braid her hair, smiling down at Zera.

"Only if you let me ask you a couple of questions."

The brunette eyed her curiously, "Okay, I'll bite. Can I ask what prompted interrogation?"

Zera giggled, "I was talking with Mother, she mentioned a bit of your family. Did you happen to know or ever meet them?"

Aviana finished braiding her hair as they made their way to the living room, "No. I haven't met my family, but that's not uncommon among us. You are more of a special case in that area, Zera."

"Demons don't normally know their parents? They're family history?"

Aviana shook her head as she took her seat on the coffee table, "When demons are young, they are essentially thrown to the wolves. Some rare cases, higher ranking demons will keep their young close without actually hindering their growth."

Zera grabbed the control and started searching for a movie, "What do you mean by hindering?"

"It is believed when you are too involved with a baby's growth, it's believed that they will be weaker. Bloodline really matters very little to our kind, but you are an exception." Aviana elaborated, Zera looked over to her friend. "Your father and your mother had a union that is rare."

"Because of the different races?"

"The only bloodlines that matter are those of the original families, such as Lucifer and those within his close circle." Aviana elaborated.

"Yes."

"Much like the humans back in the 1900s, no?"

"Exactly so. However, not to the same extent. Demons ridicule but do not behave so violently, it's seen more like a waste of time." Aviana replied as she stretched her arms upward. Zera nodded and leaned against Aviana as they settled down in front of the TV.

"Aviana?"

"Yes?"

"If I come to you for answers regarding anything my father is hiding from me, can I count on you to help me?"

A long pause before Aviana responded in barely a whisper, "I cannot promise that..."

Zera was hurt and disappointed, but she expected it. "Father takes you for granted Aviana." They passed the night in silence, watching the movie marathon playing on the screen until the early hours of dawn.