When all was said and done, Faya was able to open a chamber for the children to rest, a personalized bedroom with all sorts of figurines and pictures on the wall, each one detailing the residents of the House. Stolas would stretch his arms as he'd be quick to go to bed first, setting up his recorder to play his late father's song at a low volume. Solomon would be next, letting Shady loom over so that he can watch the child as he'd read through one of the books: The Silver Penny. Once he arrived at the stanza of the soldier's requests, the Biblical Mage's eyes began to drift as he'd finally go to sleep.
Only Zazel and Harvard were awake, and while the latter tried, the Demon was quick to ask, a whisper to ensure the others remain in their slumber. "Harvard... Should I tell that lady what really happened?" he'd ask.
"...About the Bounty hunter, right?" Harvard questioned.
"Mhm. I... feel a bit bad for lying to her... or at the very least letting you lie in my stead. I know I'm probably going to get gunned down and everything, but I'd rather let her know the truth than anything else, yeah?"
"Like hell they'd gun you down! They gotta go through us first before that! She may be friends with my Mom, but she knows VERY well about what you went through!" Harvard's whisper nearly raised in volume before he quiets himself, calming himself. "But so long as you explain yourself, you should be good."
"You think so?"
"I know so!" A small pause was left, a smile on the demon's face, up until Harvard asked a question. "Hey... you ah... you can keep a secret right?"
"I've kept my own thing for a while out. Why?"
"...I'm a bit scared."
Zazel's face shifted from joy to shock, his jaw nearly dropping. "HUH??" He'd nearly make a loud sound from what he heard, yet the boy continued.
"It's just... My mom encountered the Beldam before, right? Would she even know I exist? Would she still have the same grudge? ...Would she try to hurt Mama like that?" His concerns were as prevalent as his gaze, as he'd nestled his head at the pillows. The Demon couldn't believe what he's hearing, but considering the last time his mother was threatened, it almost felt obvious.
"I doubt that would be the case."
"And you know that how?"
"Because you're Harvard Helsing? Or was the numerous times you kept testing your life an act?" The Card Magician can't help but be stunted, gazing up at the Devil, watching him put a thumbs up. "You are a lot of things, Harvard. Cowardly isn't one of them. You being afraid may come up from time to time, but never to an extent where you won't fight back. You're one of the few... well 'human' enough people... to truly stand. Trust me, you're good. Your fears are like mine. We both don't want to see what would happen if we get close, but we have to do it eventually. You just happen to be better at it than me!" His words of confidence and consideration would let the boy smile.
"Thanks man. Night..." He'd state, before finally closing his eyes. His body grows numb, slowly having his mind rest, before opening his eyes and seeing that he was in a dream. A world of black, his bed still intact, but nothing more than a small road of stones. Harvard tried to look around such a world, before moving ahead through this path. It felt endless. It looked endless, up until he would see a creature on his left. A Lizard, one with a forked tongue that possessed glassy eyes. The creature ran ahead the path, forcing Harvard to follow ahead, a humming being heard from afar. A house was being visible, one that was only getting bigger the more he approached it. Such a house held chicken-like legs for arms, the door acting as its mouth. Harvard, despite the warning signs visible, would be compelled to go inside, as if his body has taken over and went on autopilot, even if his mind says otherwise. The Lizard was visible again, crawling across the walls and staring out towards the boy in curiosity.
A House that was filled to the brim with toys, plushies especially, regarding of different animals. Harvard would try to reach one out, but his touch would be met with a cockroach coming out of a deer's patched head, pulling his hand away almost immediately. Looking up, he'd see a moth trapped in a web, a spider coming down to wrap it around and prepare its next meal. The boy kept his pace as he explored more of the house, seeing all sorts of stuffed animals on the shelves: Bears, Tigers, Swans, Butterflies, Squids. Each one felt like a personal petting zoo than a toy shop. When he walks by such places, he wouldn't notice the small changes that occur as he follows the lizard. Walking by another deer and a few owls would have them turn their heads sharply and make a wide grin. Walking by the rats would have them disappear into a small hole once his focus was averted. Walking by the humanoid plushies would have them make a sorrowful expression. Closer and closer he got towards the door, reaching out and turning its knob.
When the door was open, she was there.
Tall, lanky even, but her body was hidden in the darkness. Only two panes of glass were visible, an eye etched on each one. It slinked to the ground and crawled ahead, staring at the child, while Harvard tries to move. He wasn't budging an inch. He was getting nervous, as he went face-to-face with the beast. It stared into the child, as if her gaze pierced into his soul. Jagged teeth were being visible as she opened her mouth like a flower, stretching across what he could assume was the entire head. It had its maw surround the boy's head, and before she could close it.
He woke up.