I watch her eat the food hungrily. She is eating very hungrily. It makes me wonder when was the last time she had something decent to eat.
I look across the table at my wife. I see an expression that I've never seen there before. Her eyes look soft. They look like they are actually in the present, not lost as usual.
She has taken an interest in the girl. An interest, I wish she took in me three years ago.
She always acts like everything she does is out of duty. I never really see any happiness behind it. She makes dinners out of habit, she irons my clothes out of routine. The only thing she ever seems to enjoy is the sex.
I don't even give her enough of that. I am barely at home.
But, what if she might come to see my world differently because of this little girl? What if she decides she wants to stay after all? I know it is a very long shot, but it is worth it.
When the little girl finishes eating, she looks up at me with grateful eyes.
I try to smile at her. My effort is very unsuccessful, but she still smiles back. I don't like children. I never liked children. I don't even plan on having children. I grew up among the children my age. They were the worst people you could ever come across. I killed four out of five of them when they tried to kill me. That was when I discovered my natural ability. I was just seven years old when I killed them. When my mother found out about what I did, she sold me to a martial arts academy. I never saw her again.
All the children at the academy were worse than mean. Not only them, all the children I have ever come across are demons.
I am glad that Arya does not want any children. If at all we are to have children, what would they be? Would they have powers like her?
The scraping of the seat on the linoleum kitchen floor jerks me out of my thoughts. The little girl wants to go to bed. Arya is taking her upstairs.
My mind drifts to the doctor's appointment we would have to make. The case is a very sensitive one, they would probably request to see one of her parents or guardians. I just killed the last one she had left, even if he had not been much of a parent.
She is now an orphan. My custody of the girl would be questionned. I am a prime suspect. The girl just happens to be with me after her father has been brutally murdered? I don't want to give the police any reason to be sniffing around my life.
I can claim that we found her on the road, but what if the girl does not play along?
They might even think I'm the one that rapes her. Bloody hell!
The social workers would probably send her to a foster home. As much as I would hate for that to happen, there is nothing I can do to help her, unless I can find a way to have custody without being a suspect.
Arya comes down the stairs.
"She's asleep". She whispers.
She walks over to the table where I am standing and squeezes my hand across the table.
"We have to give her up for adoption. Don't worry, she'll be fine". She says.
How does she know what I am thinking? Do the ghosts hear my thoughts?
"How did you know?" I ask her.
"I can see the dispute in your spirit. We can't get too attached. You said it yourself, we have to be more careful now that we know that the Inspector is a black shadow". She says.
She is right. She is always right.
A fucking black shadow. He is a disgrace to the night society. His title and rank of black shadow should be stripped from him. He has turned his back on our way of life. He now uses guns.
Well, he probably has a story. The story behind his transition for the dark to the light must be a very interesting one.
"I'm going to bed". She says.
I return back to reality.
"So early? Tired?" I ask.
"Yeah". She says and nods.
I watch her, paying particular attention to her face. She looks very pale. She turns and leaves. I quickly clear the dishes and toss them into the dishwasher after scraping away the excesses.
Arya is already in bed. She has already had a shower. How long did I stay in my thoughts, I wonder.
She is wearing one of my shirts. I quickly shower before joining her in the bed. I am only wearing pajama pants. Her skin feels cold against mine.
"Are you okay?" I ask.
She slowly opens her eyes.
"I used too much power today. It is taking a toll on me." She replies.
"Do you want to eat something?" I ask.
She shakes her head.
She arranges her pillow and turns away from me. This is the very first time she is ever doing something like this.
I look at her, trying to gauge the reason for her new change in attitude.
I reach forward and pull her into my arms. She feels very cold. It has me worried.
"Is there a way to fix this your human body?" I ask, like I talk about interdimensional beings everyday.
"It's either I go back to my own world or I give up my powers entirely". She says.
"Can't you have both?" I ask.
"Necromancers are not meant to be humans. The amount of energy required can only be supported by our true form." She replies.
In other words, using her powers here would kill her. Her powers are the only link she has with her world. If she loses that, she may become bitter and hateful.
Do I send her back to her own world?