The Return of Serenity

Innocence stood at the kitchen sink, staring out the window, a halfway-washed glass in her hands. Their homestead was a small single-story home. Every possible nook and cranny was filled with handmade furniture. Family photos and artwork made by each member hung on the walls. Delicate plants hung from the ceiling. A spider in the corner of the window spun its web with care.

As a Wanderer, she never would’ve thought she’d settle down here. She wanted a place away from the noise of the nearby town of two thousand farmers, yet close enough to be a part of the community. Her husband Ryder found the abandoned homestead and built it back to life from the ground up. Close yet isolated. Just what she wanted.

She still remembered walking blindfolded. His hands were on her shoulders as he guided her forward.

“Are we almost there?”

“Just a little bit more,” he said softly.

A few moments later they stopped. His hands moved from her shoulders to the cloth wrapped around her eyes.

“You ready?”           

Innocence giggled. “Not like I have a choice.”

He unfastened the cloth. She gasped as she saw the homestead before her. The wind whispered through the tall pines and gently blew her hair.

“Well, what do you think?”

Her mouth struggled to form the words. “It’s ... everything I wanted. For us. For our family.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long kiss.

But it didn’t last.

The war. The refugee camp. Her boot kicking a skull in the ashes of her town. The Healer saying the Curse was beyond his power to remedy. The death of Rylen and the realization of what that meant for her family. By the grace of God, they made it through to the war’s end. She and Ryder thought that they could raise their five kids in peace.

But then there was her oldest daughter, Serenity.

As a baby she would struggle and squirm in Innocence’s arms. Later came the longer tantrums and vivid nightmares that left her screaming. Innocence had always been there to wipe away the tears, telling her everything was okay with a hug and a kiss. Compared to her siblings, Serenity just seemed more emotional. Innocence told herself that was all it was.

As Serenity grew up, the differences became sharper.

“How was school?” Innocence asked. Serenity sat across from her picking at a sandwich. 

“Fine. Same as always.”“You meet anyone nice?”“A few people.”

“Anyone interesting?”

“No. They’re all the same.”

Innocence laughed. “The same? Don’t let all our white hair fool you. Surely someone stood out.”

“No, Mom. There’s no one. Okay? End of story. There’s nothing to do in this dead-end town.”

“Honey, I think you just need to give people a chance–”

Serenity scoffed as she threw her full plate into the sink before slamming the front door.

Yet even then, Serenity would always come back hours later with a tear-streaked face.

As the sun began to set, Serenity came back through the back door with an apple from the tree and a bouquet of wildflowers.

Ryder, leaning against the wall, raised an eyebrow at Innocence. She’d told him about her outburst, but said she’d handle it.

“Hey, sweetheart.” She took off her oven mitts and set them on the counter. “Supper’s on the stove.”

Serenity sniffled. “Mom, I–I’m sorry. I made a mistake. I don’t know what came over me.” She held out the gifts to Innocence.

Innocence smiled and took the gifts and wrapped her in a hug. “It’s okay, honey.”

On a separate occasion, Innocence watched from the porch as Serenity brought her little sister Beatitude into the chicken coop and held a chicken in her arms.

“Bea, Mrs. Peckers is not going to hurt you.”

She furrowed her brow. “Then why is she named Mrs. Peckers? Getting pecked hurts.”

“She only pecks at the oats and slimy bugs. You don’t like slimy bugs, right?”

Beatitude wrinkled her nose and shook her head.

“Here, we’ll take this nice and slow . . .” Serenity gently handed off Mrs. Peckers to Beatitude’s tiny arms. Beatitude wrapped her arms around Mrs. Peckers, who seemed oblivious to the whole affair, and her mouth widened into a grin.

“I’m holding a chicken!” Beatitude squealed. Serenity laughed as she stroked the chicken. Innocence smiled as their eyes met.

The nightmares had only gotten worse. Serenity tried to discuss them with Innocence but was never able to explain them. Eventually she stopped trying, but the nightmares still continued.

Ryder crawled into bed next to Innocence. He sighed deeply as he rubbed his face.

Innocence put a hand on his shoulder and massaged it. The tense muscles loosened as her calming aura washed away his anxiety.

“She’s still doing it,” he said after several minutes. “She was angry at something. Cursing at it. I couldn’t understand it, though.”

“Should I go over there?”             “She’s already made it clear that she doesn’t want her mommy to come rescue her with a calming aura.”

Innocence slumped into the recesses of her pillow.

It’s just nightmares, she thought, but prayed for her protection anyway.

Even after years of preparation, the words stayed lodged in their throats the day of her sixteenth birthday. 

The three of them stood out on the porch as the kids dined on pie inside. Serenity sat between them.

“So how does it feel to be sixteen?” Ryder asked.

She sighed. “The same as it was turning fifteen.”

“Well, it’s a big milestone. Back when I was your age–”

“You underwent the Fang Trials. Daaaad, you’re always retelling this story. I can probably say it better than you.”

Innocence smiled. “He just likes reliving his glory days.”

“Hmph,” Ryder said, then gave her a knowing look. Now?            Innocence froze, unsure. “Serenity…”

“Yeah, Mom?”

“Uhm, you know how you’ve been dealing with nightmares?”

Serenity scoffed. “Yeah, Mom. I know. There’s nothing you or anybody else can do.” She yawned and leaned against her, then jolted awake. “But what did you want to say?”

You were cursed while you were in the womb by an evil being, and that’s why you’ve had nightmares your entire life.

As Innocence replayed the words, she knew she couldn’t bring herself to say them. What if she got too curious? What if she decided to do more research? What if she did try to find Ratskull?

“I just wanted to say that your dad and I are always here for you.”

Serenity nodded. “I knew that already.” She mumbled but leaned her head on Innocence’s shoulder. Moments later there was a soft snoring sound emanating from her.

Innocence gave Ryder a single look that said Not yet.

The following day, Innocence set a plate of red bean casserole in front of each of her kids and Ryder. As she took a seat, Ryder cleared his throat and made the sign of the Cross.

“In the name of the Father–”

Serenity rolled her eyes, a gesture that was supposed to go unnoticed.

“Serenity, how about you say grace?” Ryder said.

She jerked her head up. “No thanks.”

“I’ll say it!” Raina perked up.

“Yeah, let her do it.” Serenity bit out.

Innocence reached  towards her daughter. “Serenity, you’ve said grace before. Are you okay?”

“Yes. I’m fine,” she said quickly.

“Serenity. Listen to dad. Just say grace,” Ronan said. 

“I– I don’t want to. I’m not feeling up to it.” A bead of sweat appeared on her forehead.

Innocence frowned. “Is there something wrong?”

“No,  Mom. Everything is FINE! I just don’t want to pray right now.”

“Serenity,” Justice began, “do you want me to say–”

“I don’t want anyone saying the stupid prayer!” she yelled. “It doesn’t do anything. The food stays food. Just as everything stays the same. This town stays the same! I’m tired of praying. I’m tired of this stupid town. I’m tired of pretending like life is fine, but it’s not!”

As she caught her breath, Beatitude spoke. “But we have everything we need here–”

“Shut up! None of you get it!”  she snapped. “No one in this family gets it! What I have to go through every single skripping night!” She abruptly got up from her chair and stormed down the hallway.

Innocence felt a tear slide down her cheek and drip onto the napkin at her knees. Ryder’s mouth hung open as he tried to comprehend what just happened. Justice, Raina, and Beatitude were quivering, too afraid to speak.

Only Ronan, her second oldest, charged after Serenity. 

“SERENITY! Get back here and apologize!”

His bootfalls followed hers.

There was a loud crack followed by Ronan grunting. Then the sound of a slamming door that cracked the frame. The five of them unfroze and rushed to find Ronan on the ground outside Serenity’s door rubbing a badly  bruised eye.

Ryder wanted to break it down, but Innocence intervened.

“Ryder, we all need some time to cool down.” She stood in front of Serenity’s door, putting both her hands on his shoulder and imbuing him with tranquility, but it required a constant effort. “Everyone is too hot and not thinking clearly. Confronting her now will just make it worse. Let’s wait till the morning when we’re all cooled down.”

Ryder relented.

Ronan was a different story.

“But Mom. She disrespected everyone–”

“I am well aware of that. But getting back at her for what she did with more violence won’t solve anything. In the morning we’ll give her a reasonable punishment. But for now, you have to promise me that you’re not going to break down her door. Are we clear?”

He sighed. “Yes.”

The night passed and a new day dawned. Ryder and Innocence were at Serenity’s door. She knocked gently.

“Honey? Can we come in?”

Silence.

“We aren’t here to punish you-“

“Right now,” Ryder mumbled.

She shot him a look, then focused back on the door, “Sweetie, can you please unlock the door so we can talk?”

Silence.

Ryder sighed and inserted the master key into the lock.

  Click

         The door opened to reveal an empty room.

“Inno, look.”

She tilted her head up to see that the window to her room was open, the drapes gently fluttering in the wind.

Innocence’s heart dropped as she saw Serenity’s clothes and belongings strewn across the ground like she was packing in a hurry. She had done it too many times in her own life not to recognize it.  Not a single family photo had been taken. Not even a goodbye letter.

As her eyes scanned the ground, Ryder sucked in a breath.

They searched for her around the homestead, then the town, and eventually the surrounding woods. The only lead was that one of the shops selling survival equipment had been broken into. Despite the shopkeeper’s protests, Innocence and Ryder paid for the stolen goods and damages.

Ryder summoned Fearless One to join the hunt.

Mounted on his Great Wolf, Ryder stood over the small cave.

The trail goes no further, Fearless One told him.

Ryder dismounted and stood at the lip. He ran his hand through his hair.

No.

It wasn’t just a cave.

No.

It was a warp cave.

No!

Even a Great Wolf could not track someone through a warp cave.

Ryder’s legs buckled beneath him as he tried to catch his breath.

She is on her own.

Serenity had left town for the wider world of Aurelia. Ryder had tried to brush it aside, saying she was just taking after Innocence and her siblings– the restless side that sought adventure.

Ryder and Innocence sat by the fire, their kids safely tucked away in their rooms.

All except for Serenity.

“Innocence. Where did we go wrong? What did we do?” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Just when I thought she was past it…”

Innocence stared blankly into the fire.

“We survived a whole dang war for this to happen? We do everything right and it still goes to skrell.” He sighed and glanced over at her. She was still staring blankly into the fire.

“Inno? Are you okay?”

“Ryder, we’ve known all along.”

“What are you talking about?”

“He told me.”

“Who told you?”

“The Harvester.”

Ryder jerked his head. “Him?”

“Yes.” She hesitated as her hand began to tremble. The memory was forever ingrained in her mind…

Slumped against the tree.

Her arms covering her swollen belly. Protecting an unborn Serenity as the Harvester stood over her. She braced for the scythe to pierce her abdomen. Praying for a quick end.

Instead, it did something far worse.

The Harvester put its cold gauntlet on her belly and uttered a language she never wanted to hear again.

The cold seeping into her belly.

Serenity violently kicking inside her womb.

Four words that were forever etched in her mind.

She will seek me.

As she stared into the black, empty sockets of his Ratskull, she knew Serenity had been changed. The Harvester and its apprentice disappeared into the woods as Fearless One and Ryder charged in, but they left because they wanted to. As Ryder had cradled her in his arms, she lost consciousness.

Ryder stared at her. “We should have told her sooner.”

Innocence shook her head. “What would that have done? That would have only made her more curious.” She took a long sip of her tea. “No. We did the best we could for her, right?”

Right?

Innocence could never bring herself to hate anyone, but she had to fight the daily urge to curse the name of Ratskull.

Her children weren’t stupid. Questions were asked.

“Listen. We don’t want to scare you, but we… withheld the truth for long enough.” Innocence bit her lip.

“What is it?” Beatitude asked, her twelve-year-old eyes wide with fear as she clutched a plush.

“A long time ago, before any of you were born, Mom was cursed by a Harvester.”

Her eyes watered.

No. Stay strong. For the children.

Ryder wrapped his arm around Innocence.

Raina sat by her dad’s feet. “Is that w–why she always had the nightmares?”

He nodded. “Yes. The Harvester did something with Serenity. That’s why she...”

“Was sometimes mean?” Beatitude finished.

Ryder paused. “I... don’t know.”

“Wait, why did this only affect her? Why aren’t we all like her?” Ronan pressed.

A single tear escaped Innocence’s eye. “Serenity wasn’t the only one.”

Realization dawned on him. “Is that why Rylen…” He gulped. “Is that why we can’t have anymore brothers and sisters?”

She sighed. “We don’t know why it was only her. But yes, the Curse is why Rylen...” Innocence let out a sob into Ryder’s shoulder as he grimaced and stroked her head.

As the days went on, Innocence held onto the hope that Serenity would one day return from her adventure with plenty of stories and the passion that had compelled her to run away quenched by homesickness. But as those days became weeks, and those weeks became months, there was still no sign of Serenity. Missing was the wrong term. Serenity knew where she was going. But her family didn’t. The hope remained, but it dimmed with each passing day and each unanswered prayer.

Then she felt it.

It had been two and a half months since Serenity’s flight. Her kids were spread throughout the homestead, doing their own thing while Ryder worked on a project outside. It was the weekend, and that meant time to relax before the week began in earnest. Innocence stood in the kitchen working on vegetable casserole, a Saturday special.

Chop. Chop. Chop.

Innocence cut through a long carrot, occasionally sweeping the chunks into a bowl. She glanced at the chicken clock Ryder had gotten her as a gift for Mother’s Day years ago.

And no matter what we do, it’s always two minutes behind–

Agony burned in her chest.

She dropped the knife and groped for the counter desperately while clutching her abdomen. She gripped the cutting board as she fell to the ground, taking the board down with her and spilling diced vegetables everywhere. She was unable to focus on anything but the pain that dominated her senses. Innocence had never felt anything so horrible. Not when she was in labor. Not when a bullet tore through her calf. Not even when a sword pierced her stomach and killed her.

This pain was something far deeper.

Her cries brought Ronan rushing into the room. He stared at his mother in horror.

“MOM!? What’s going on-? Ah!” He clutched his shirt at his chest and gritted his teeth. “What the skr–”

“Get Ryder!” she moaned and curled up in the fetal position.

He stumbled to get Ryder, and moments later, her husband and kids had gathered around her.

            Ryder, unsure of what to do, wrapped his arms around her as she lay on her side whimpering on the kitchen floor. The kids circled around them and hugged as they faced their own pain.

When she was finally able to speak, there was only one thing she could say.

“S-serenity.” Ryder’s breath hitched.“She’s d-done something.”

All Peaceables had a connection between family members, and no connection was stronger than the one between parent and child.

Ronan clenched his fist and punched a cabinet, immediately withdrawing his bruised hand.

Justice hyperventilated and held onto the kitchen sink.

Raina hugged her dad tightly and groaned as he tried to keep both her and Innocence up.

Beatitude rubbed her head and cried in the corner.

Innocence knew Serenity had done something but didn’t know what. Her daughter had fallen much farther than she ever imagined.

Ratskull.

It all went back to Ratskull.

For a brief moment, Innocence’s anger flared as she thought of the Harvester.

            With his family in pain around him, Ryder said the only thing he could: “We’ll get her back.”

When the pain reached a crescendo, she reached out in a desperate attempt to strengthen the weakening connection with her daughter.

“We’ll get you back,” Innocence whispered.

She didn’t know if it would work, but she had to try.

In the days that followed, the pain dulled. It would flare up every so often, leaving Innocence with one dreadful question.

What was she doing?

Innocence prayed each and every time it happened. Her husband prayed. Her children prayed. The whole town prayed for Serenity’s return to the light.

It had been one year since the first agonizing feeling, and there was still no Serenity. One more year of pain. One more year of prayer. One more year of an empty chair during meals.

Innocence looked down at the now shining glass dripping in her wet hands. She had scrubbed it spotless.

She sighed and lowered her head.

Why does life have to be so cruel?

She set aside the glass and used a towel to dry her hands. Then put it on her face and cried. She’d been doing this over the last year.             “Mom, are you okay?” Innocence turned around and saw that Ronan was standing at the kitchen entrance frowning. He had chosen to do his schooling from home rather than in town to watch over his siblings and mother while Ryder was at work. Innocence was forever grateful, but hated the unfair burden it put on him.

She wiped the tears from her eyes. “It’s okay Ro. I was just thinking.” Ro, Serenity had come up with that nickname as a toddler.

“Was it about Serenity?”

She nodded. What else could it have been? She gave him a sad smile. “You’re very observant.”

Ronan didn’t respond. Instead, he simply went and hugged her tightly. Innocence resisted. It wasn’t because she didn’t like hugs, she loved hugs. However now wasn’t the time to fix everything with a hug. But Ronan kept his strong arms around her and she soon raised her arms and squeezed back. He was like his father: tall with black hair, but with her grey eyes.

“It’s okay, Mom, I miss her too. You can cry.”

Innocence had no more tears left, so she just let him hold her. She felt a slight calm ease into her nerves. He was trying to use his own calming aura on her. If hers was like an ocean, his was a mere trickle. She felt like laughing at his well-intentioned attempt and soon found herself at peace as the sadness subsided.

Sometimes you don’t need an ocean…

They broke apart.

“Thanks, Ronan. I appreciate it,” Innocence said. “I needed that more than I thought.”

He smiled. “Of course.”

The voices of Justice, Raina, and Beatitude came from the other room as they argued over some obscure math concept. He rolled his eyes. “I leave for five minutes…” The two of them laughed, then he ran his hand through his hair. “If you need anything else, Mom, let me know.” Innocence was left alone with her thoughts once more.

Innocence looked at the sink now filled with clean wet dishes. The last thing she wanted to do was dry them. The air could do that. She poured herself a cup of iced tea and went to rest on the couch. There was time for a nap, then she’d help the kids. Maybe she’d do a bit of sketching. She hadn’t done that in a while.

Head elevated and feet propped up on the coffee table, she closed her eyes.

There was a knock at the door.

Innocence’s eyes fluttered open. She glanced at a wall clock and saw that barely half an hour had passed. It was still the afternoon. Ryder wasn’t supposed to be back for a few more hours. She craned her neck to listen. The kids were still in the other room.

So who was knocking?

The knock came again, slightly harder. Innocence sat up and put her feet firmly on the ground. She wasn’t expecting any delivery, and they were too far out for someone to simply wander by. The hairs at the back of her neck began to stand up.

The knock came again, this time much louder.

Innocence stood up, her heart beating like a hummingbird’s wings. She jerked her head as Ronan approached from behind. He was about to go to the door when Innocence put a hand in front of him.

“Wait. Let me see.”

In front of the door, Innocence felt cold dread wrap around her shoulders. She shrugged but it wouldn’t leave her. There was no peephole, so she couldn’t tell who it was.         

She slowly turned back to Ronan. “Get the kids to the saferoom,” she said calmly.

“But Mom-“

“Ronan. Please.”           

He balled his fists and remained where he was facing the door.

She slowly unlatched the locks. Each click sealing her fate as surely as a bullet being loaded. Her hand wrapped around the aged bronze knob.

She had to face what was out there.

Innocence took a deep breath and opened the door.

And saw her worst nightmare standing before her.

It was a Harvester wearing black steel armor scarred from combat and decorated with ancient runes of protection and hexation. At its back was a large scythe with the blade folded in.

But the most disturbing thing was its head. The skull of a… raven sat atop its armored shoulders, browned and aged as if it had been taken from an ancient grave. The beak was cracked and the eyeless sockets only held darkness.

And it took a step into her home.

It was fight or flight.

But for a Peaceable, fight was out of the question.

When the world snapped back into focus, she let out a scream and jumped backwards.

Innocence’s leg caught the coffee table, toppling her to the ground and causing her head to hit the hardwood. Adrenaline kicked in.

Ronan!

A quick glance confirmed that he stood frozen, afraid that any movement could provoke it.

Innocence’s head pounded as she stumbled towards Ronan and blocked him from the creature.

“Get the kids to the saferoom!”

Ronan’s eyes darted between his mother and the Harvester behind her. “Mom-“

“NOW!” Innocence yelled. She’d never yelled at her kids before.

Without hesitation, he ran back to the room to gather his siblings as she stood back. Hopefully, she could buy them some time. She could never mount a defense, but she had to try.

Maybe the creature would be merciful.

Oh, what a foolish thought.

Probably my last.

The Harvester was slowly walking towards her. Each step echoed through the floorboards into her skin. Each one closer to sealing her fate.

A thought occurred to her, and the feeling of dread multiplied. Ryder will see my body–

NO! Don’t think of that. Focus. Protect the children.

Down the hall in her bedroom, she heard the sound of the kids climbing down into the safe room in the closet. They had installed it after the war, and it was guaranteed to stop even a Harvester. 

“Mom, c’mon!” Ronan yelled. His head peeked out of the hallway with the family’s AR held before him.

“Ronan. Close it.”

Step.

“Mom, you need to come.”

Step.

“There’s no time.”

Step.“Please, Mom. C’mon.”

The Harvester was now in the middle of her living room. She stepped back and took a deep breath as tears streamed from her eyes.

“Ronan, you have to defend the kids!”

Step.

“Mom, I’m not leaving you.”

Step.

It was now only a few yards from her and forced her into the hallway. Ronan steadied the rifle but couldn’t get a shot without hitting her.

“Ronan, tell the kids I love them,” Innocence said.

Step.

“But-“

Step.

“Close the door!”

Step.

Ronan’s head disappeared from the doorway. She heard the siblings arguing. Finally, the trapdoor slammed shut.

Even as the Harvester was stalking towards her, she was able to let out a sigh of relief.

Her kids were safe.

That’s all that mattered.

The Raven Skull said nothing as it continued its advance.

  She stopped herself at the entrance to the hallway and stood fast.

“Get away from my family,” she said, her heart pounding.

With the abomination only yards away, she closed her eyes and accepted her fate. Innocence whispered a quiet prayer of protection.

“Lord, give me strength.”Step.

“Give me courage.”

Step.

“Give me peace.”

Step.

“Lord, take me back into your arms.”

Step.

. . .

Wait. Why am I not dead yet?

She opened her eyes and gasped.

The thing was a foot away. Cold darkness emanating from its sockets.

“S-stay back.”

The feeling of cold intensified. She channeled her calming aura and pushed it outwards to beat it back.

“I–I said stay back!” She focused her calming into a burst of energy that pushed back the dark. The Raven Skull stumbled backwards but kept its footing.

Something within the Harvester broke, and it spoke.

“W–wait,” it said.

The voice was hoarse, raspy, and... feminine.

Innocence’s focus wavered. Not because a creature that appeared so thoroughly dead shouldn’t be able to speak, or because the sound emanated from a skull of a bird.

No.

It was because the voice was familiar.

Innocence took a step back as the creature lifted its head to look at her.

No.

It’s a trick. It’s some sort of arcane magic that made it seem familiar. It’s toying with me.

Then the creature spoke again.

“M–mom.”

The word made the blood drain from her face.

Why would this… monstrosity say that?

It’s a trick. A trap. Some sort of ploy to distract me. That’s the only answer. Because the alternative... No! That’s not it. It’s doing this to kill me.

But the alternative was crawling its way back, and she couldn’t shove it down.

“M–mom, it’s me.”

Innocence’s heart was pounding.

No. It can’t be. It’s not possible-

“It’s… S-Serenity.”

Innocence’s soul squirmed.

No... No! This thing can’t be her. It can’t be my baby.

Harvesters were known to play with their food, but she’d never heard of anything like this. This had to be a trick.

And yet she was still alive.

The Raven Skull’s black sockets stared at her. In the darkness, Innocence saw a faint flicker of the person it was before.

The girl she was before…

She didn’t want to believe it. It was too horrifying. But a motherly instinct stirred inside her.

This was her daughter.

She took a tentative step towards the creature.

“S-Serenity?”

At the word Serenity, it fell to the ground on its knees letting out a deep guttural sound that made her skin crawl. The creature possessed no way to cry, and yet somehow it cried.

“M-mom. I–I–I’m s–s–sorry. I m–made a m–m–mistake.”

Innocence felt the primal need to care come alive. This was no creature; this was her daughter. She slowly stooped down to her level.

“Serenity? I’m here.”

Its dark sockets looked up at her, and Innocence had to steel herself as a feeling of pain and loneliness overcame her.

She’s suffering.

Without hesitation, she embraced the Harvester, wrapping her arms around the cold armor, being careful not to touch the scythe. She used her calming aura to push back the darkness and soothe her mind as the Raven Skull continued sobbing.

How could this be her daughter? The one that she carried in her womb for nine months feeling every kick and push from inside her belly? The one who gave her hastily scribbled apology letters whenever she got in trouble?

Now she was part of an ancient killing cult.

“M-mom I-I’m s-s-sorry.” The Raven Skull shrilled.

This didn’t look like her daughter anymore. Whatever had happened to Serenity, whatever the Harvesters did to her, Innocence would help her. Even if she had to go through skrell and back.

The Raven Skull rested its head on her shoulder. She felt cold, hard bone against her delicate cheek as its beak poked at her back.

Innocence didn’t care.

She stroked the creature’s–

No.

Serenity’s skull.

“It’s okay,” Innocence said. “I’m here sweetie. I’m here.”