Chapter 31: High Above The Ground

Trigger warning: Gun Violence. Self Harm

"Today is a celebration. A celebration of friendship, of family, of commitment, and the love of two people who are in it for forever.
Today you are adding to your lives, not only each others affections, but the companionship and blessing of a deep trust as well. You are agreeing to share strengths, weaknesses, responsibilities and love.
But what is love?"

"Baby don't hurt me." Kitty and Takado snickered under their breaths, matching each other's grins.

The officiant smiled softly and rolled his eyes before continuing on.

"Love is patience, understanding, compassion and friendship. It finds the balance between gentle and strong.
Love is not only marrying the right partner, but being the right partner.
I believe you two have written your own vows?"

"Ladies first?" Takado chuckled nervously at the glare he received from Kitty.

Kitty bit down on her lip. She inhaled deeply before repeating the words she had a thousand times before. Written and rewritten, and burned every copy so Takado wouldn't find it.
Finally saying them in front of him, not to the mirror.

"With my whole heart, I take you as my husband. Acknowledging and accepting your faults and strengths, as you do mine.
I promise to do my best to make you smile everyday as you have done for me.
I promise that I'll stay up all night fighting with you so we never go to bed angry."

Takado wiped at his eyes as Kitty,shaking, slid the ring onto his finger.

"You know me better than anyone else in the world, and yet somehow you've still found a way to love me.
You make me happier than I ever thought possible, and more loved than I ever could have imagined.
And so I promise myself to you, my reason for smiling."

Takado smiled, reaching out to stroke her cheek.

"Well I'm gonna seem about as creative as a goldfish after that." Takado chuckled nervously. He closed his eyes and prayed he'd have half the composure Kitty did.

"On this day, I give you my heart and all that goes with it.
I promise when things get rough, I'll be there to help bear the burden.
I promise to drop anything if ever you need me, and to forever be loyaly yours.
I promise you'll never have to be alone."

Takado smiled, wiping away Kitty's tears. He ignored his own as he slid the ring onto her finger.

"I call you 'My Kitty' because you are my everything. You are my light, and you've shown me more love than I've ever known.
You have made me a better person. I am truly blessed to be a part of your life, which as of today becomes our life together.
There is still a part of me today that cannot believe I'm the one that gets to marry you.
But I am.
And I promise I will always love you, my reason for changing who I used to be."

"And so, do you Katherine take this man to be your wedded husband?"

"I do." Kitty's voice squeaked. Takado took her hands in his, laughing softly.

"And do you Takado take this woman to be your wedded wife?"

"I do." Takado smiled at her, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

"By the power of your love and commitment, and the powers vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride."

Takado's lips met hers without hesitation. Kitty relaxed in his arms, still quivering from the tears that fell from her eyes.
...

Sabbith sighed softly, meeting her lips to Gabriel's before taking her seat beside him.
His hand lingered on her arm as she pulled away, quietly watching Takado twirl Kitty across the dance floor.

"Is everything alright?" Gabriel asked. He leaned closer, entwining his fingers with hers.

"Huh?" Sabbith seemed almost startled by his voice. She smiled hesitantly. 
"Yeah, of course I am."

"We've been best friends for years. I can tell when you're not okay." Gabriel said flatly. He kept his eyes on her, watching her every movement.

"Gabe, it's our best friends' wedding. Can you please just drop it?" Sabbith pulled her hand from his, fixing him with a glare before returning her attention elsewhere.

Gabriel sighed, kissing her temple briefly. He leaned back in his seat, his eyes flickering between Sabbith and the dance floor.

"Come on Kitty! You have to throw the bouquet now." Spikes announced, dragging her best friend away from Takado.

"Okay, Okay... Where did I put it?" Kitty laughed nervously. Takado and Spikes sighed in unison as the three of them set about looking for it.

"I found it." Nadine cheered as she brought the bouquet to Kitty.

"Okay let's get everyone together so Kitty can throw it." Spikes announced loudly, their few guests gathering on the dance floor.

Sabbith sighed, but joined the commotion. She wasn't really paying attention as Spikes spoke above everyone else, or when Kitty threw the bouquet.
So it surprised her as much as anyone else when it landed in her hands.

Kitty laughed, commenting on Sabbith's startled expression before rushing to hug her. Kitty quickly departed, returning to her husband's arms.

"Guess I should start ring shopping, huh?" Gabriel laughed softly, approaching Sabbith from behind.

"What?" Her voice was incredulous, taking a step away from Gabriel.

"I thought it was supposed to be whoever caught the bouquet got married next?" Gabriel asked, doubting he'd gotten the story wrong.

"I guess so... It's just a stupid thing of flowers though." Sabbith's voice was harsh as she spoke. She turned around aimed back towards her table.

"Maybe so, but why not us next?" Gabriel asked. He trailed after her, keeping a slight distance.

"I don't know when I'm going to be ready for that sort of thing."

"I thought you said you wanted to get married?"

"I do." Sabbith sighed, taking a drink of champagne from a passing waiter.
"I'm just not ready to yet."

"I love you, you love me. Why does it matter when we get engaged or married?" Gabriel asked. His voice tinted with pain as he sat beside her.
"The sooner the better. There's no reason to postpone our lives together."

"I just don't want to right now, Gabe." Sabbith sighed.
"I don't know how to explain it."

"When will you be ready?"

"Gabriel, I don't know. This isn't something that I can guarantee that in three years time I'll be ready for. I can't even promise I'll be ready in ten years!" Sabbith whispered harshly in an attempt to keep her voice down.

"Do you just not want to marry me?"

Sabbith groaned. 

"Stop taking it so fucking personally Gabe."

"Hey, is everything okay?" Warren paused as he'd been walking past the bickering couple.

"Everything is fine." Gabriel growled lowly, his eyes still on Sabbith.

Sabbith glared at him before standing at Warren's side.
"No, everything is not fine. Do you want to go dance, or something?"

"Seriously? Right in front of me?" Gabriel stood, stepping closer to Sabbith.

"What? I'm just asking our friend to hang out with me." Sabbith hissed at him, linking arms with Warren.

"Hey, I don't want to intrude on anything." Warren took a step back, Sabbith stepping with him.

"You are."

"You're not." Sabbith glared at Gabriel.
"I can't be around you right now."

"When can you be around me lately?" Gabriel spat bitterly.
"This is just like when he got in the way of us talking at the beach."

"I only stepped in because Sabbith looked like she was about to cry."

"She's my girlfriend. You should have minded your own damn business." Gabriel snarled.

"Yes, but she's my friend." Warren brushed Sabbith's hand from his arm and stepped closer to Gabriel.
"Boyfriend or not, it doesn't give you the right to make her cry."

Gabriel shoved against Warren's chest, about to shout when Sabbith cut in.

"It is Kitty and Takado's wedding! Can you fucking control yourself?" Sabbith whispered stepping in between the boys.

"We can't put our problems on hold, Sabbith. We need to talk about them."

"There is a time and place and this is neither."

"Then let's leave. Let's go talk." Sabbith slapped Gabriel's hand away as he reached for her.

"No." She inhaled deeply. 

"It's over Gabe. I can't be with you right now."

Gabriel and Warren both stared at Sabbith with shock.

"Sabbith, I-"

"No. I don't want to hear it." She hissed, stepping closer to him.

"It's over Gabriel, and so help me if you do anything to cause a scene at this wedding, I will kill you."

Sabbith walked away, Warren following close behind her.
Gabriel stood silently, watching her walk away. He glanced around for a moment, stepping away from the reception before the atmosphere of the room suffocated him entirely.
...

"Do you mind if I borrow her for a moment?" Kitty jumped slightly at the sound of his voice.
Takado glared at David, lightly kissing the top of Kitty's head before stepping away.

"David, what's up?" Kitty smiled softly, twirling to face him.

"May I have this dance?" He smiled, bowing slightly before her.

Kitty rolled her eyes. She cast a glance back at her husband.
Hesitantly she nodded and agreed.
"Sure"

"You look beautiful, Kitty." He commented as he took her hand.

"Thanks." She blushed slightly.
"I've tried to ask Takado, but he just stares at me. He says he's lost for words."

"I would be too if it were me marrying you." David laughed, spinning her once.
Kitty hesitated slightly.
"I won't do anything. I promised Takado that I'm done chasing you."

Kitty's eyes widened.

"Really? After seven years?" Kitty paused, unable to believe the question that came to mind.
"Why?"

"Look at him." Kitty turned in the direction David pointed. A smile forming on her lips as her eyes met her husband's.

"That's why." David said softly.
"You're so happy with him. My chasing you would, has only made you miserable. 

That's not what I want."

Kitty stopped dancing, wrapping her arms around her childhood best friend.
"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet." David chuckled, pulling away from her.
"You haven't even seen your wedding present yet."

They both laughed, and Kitty danced with him until the song was over.
She smiled at him as she made her way back to Takado.

"I'll see you later, Kitty." David called out as he made his way toward the edge of the property.

"You're leaving already?" Kitty asked, trotting after him.

"Yeah." He smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes.
"I've got a plane to catch."

Kitty's eyes softened as she hugged him once more before he left.
"Take care, David. Thank you, again."

"No problem." His voice hardly a whisper as he walked away.
...

David's breath was shaky as he stepped up to the door of his child hood home.
He hesitated before reaching forward and ringing the doorbell.

Within seconds his mother's smiling face appeared, opening the door for him.

"David, you didn't tell us you were stopping by." She beamed, opening the door further.
"It's been so long since we've seen you. How has life been in Bridgeport?"

"It's been good Mom. Just got promoted at my job." David stepped through the front door. He reached over, briefly hugging his mother.

"James, comeout of the garage! All of your kids are here to see us, the least you can do is stop tinkering with your cars for dinner." His mother called out as she walked into the living room.

"David's back!" A little boy at age ten cheered as he ran to hug David.

"Hey Tobias." David smiled, ruffling his hair.
"Are Jas and Meg home?"

"Yeah, and even Johnny is visiting." Tobias smiled up at his older brother.

"David." David turned around to see his father leaning against the door frame, wiping his hands with an oil stained rag.
"It's been too long son."

"Yeah it has." David smiled, shaking his father's hand.

"I'll go see how far along your mother is with dinner. Make yourself comfortable, Son." James smiled, turning to walk into the kitchen, his voice echoing through though house.
"Lorena, how close are we to dinner?"

David sat down, sighing softly as he sunk into the couch. He grinned as his twin sisters, Jasmine and Meggan, threw themselves on the couch on either side of him.
He stood briefly to hug his older brother Johnny, and they all sat in the living room catching up until their mother call them in for dinner.

David hesitated as his siblings all made their way into the kitchen.
His heart was racing as he forced himself to stand.

He stepped into the kitchen, greeted by the smiles of his entire family. He smiled weakly in return as he found his seat.
David squirmed in his seat as he ate with his family. 

He tried not think of what he was meaning to ask his parents. He still didn't know what he'd do after talking to them.
He just knew he had to know the truth.

"Tobias, go get ready for bed Darling." Lorena smiled as she stood from her seat. She kissed the top of her youngest son's head as he ran past her.

"G'night everyone." Tobais called out from the doorway before running up the stairs.

"It's so weird to have everyone home. It's been a long time." Johnny commented, throwing back the rest of his drink.

"Yes it has. I miss my two oldest boys so much." Lorena swooned, patting both Johnny and David's heads.
"So what brings you home Dear?"

David sighed with relief as Johnny went on to talk about the company he worked for, and he figured he might as well stop by while he was in town.

"And you David?" James added in after they'd listened to Johnny talk for thirty minutes.

David hesitated, blinking to refocus himself.
"And me?"

"You didn't say why you'd come in to town." Lorena clarified for her son.

"I..." David paused, glancing at his siblings before looking back to his parents.
"I wanted to ask you two something, but it might be better to talk to you privately."

"Don't be ridiculous." Lorena laughed, pouring herself a glass of whine.
"We can answer any questions here."

James sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Unless it's of the sexual nature, feel free to just ask us here David. You know you can talk to us."

David inhaled deeply, fidgeting with his fingers in his lap.
"I wanted to talk to you about the Caine's."

David's mother and father both flinched, his three siblings sitting at the table went deathly quiet.

"I'm going to assume that quiet isn't a good thing." David added in.

"Why would you want to talk about them?" Lorena forced a smiled as she turned to her son.
"Katherine has been missing for years, and you know what happened to Curtis. I recently heard Ashlee died, but we have no more information for you David."

"Are you telling me the truth?" Jasmine flinched beside him as he spoke.

"What reason would we ever have to lie to you, Son?" James spoke up from the head of the table. His eyes were far from David's.

"I don't know." David sighed, his eyes falling to his lap.
"So why are you?"

"David, you can't prove Mom and Dad are lying to you." Johnny stepped in, his face stone cold.

"I guess I don't. I just started to think it's weird that Kitty's father was murdered the night I told you what she'd told me about herself." David looked up, his eyes locking on both his parents.
"I deserve to know the truth."

Lorena and James exchanged glances before nodding briefly.

"Come with us David. We have a lot to talk about." James stood from the table, followed by Lorena and David.

Johnny, Jasmine and Meggan all sat quietly and watched them exit the room, their faces as cold as ice.

"David... Please understand we only kept this from you because you were too close to the situation to understand." Lorena rested her hand on her son's shoulder as they made their way into the garage.

"Am I the only one who doesn't know?" David questioned, pulling away from his mother.

"Tobias doesn't know." James cut in, turning to face his son.
"He's too young. We planned to tell you once you'd gotten over that thing, but you never seemed to completely let her go."

"She has a name." David glared at his father.
"What happened?"

"David, please understand. We did what needed to be done to keep our family safe." Lorena pleaded with her son.
"We can't let those things run amok. We had to."

"Had to, what?"

"We had to kill the Caine's, to protect humanity." James responded. Lorena bit down on her lip, a few tear slipping from her eyes.
"They weren't human,Son."

"But they were good people. They'd always been kind to us. Curtis was a good man!" David shouted at his father.

"They were not people, David." Lorena insisted.
"They were monsters. There is no such thing as a good demon."

"They helped our family our of bankruptcy, they had babysat all of us without asking for payment. 

Curtis went out of his way to help this family with anything we could ever need." Tears sprung to David's eyes. He couldn't believe Takado had been telling the truth.

"They were only using it as a cover. They were smart, for a long time we didn't suspect a thing." James turned away, grabbing a gun off of his tool bench.
"We might never have known if you hadn't warned us."

"So it's my fault." David froze, his eyes on his hands.
Takado had been right.

"David, darling, You did the right thing to tell us." Lorena reassured him.
"We were able to eliminate a threat to our family thanks to you."

"And now, we can train you to follow in our footsteps, just like we did with John, Jasmine, and Meggan." James wrapped an arm around his son's shoulder, handing the revolver to him.
"Unlike most hunters, we've learned how to manage a normal life while killing monsters on the side."

"Hunters?"

"It's our job to hunt down anything that isn't human." Lorena nodded encouragingly.
"Anything non-human is a monster."

"We need to keep humanity safe." They both said in unison as David lifted the gun from his father's hand.

"You're wrong." David whispered, disengaging the safety on the hand gun.
"It's the soul that makes the monster, not the species."

"Don't be stupid, Son. They're monsters by default-"

One.

His father's voice was cut off by the gun going off and Lorena's shrill piercing scream.

"David! How could you!?" She screamed as she bent over her husband's body.

"Run." David whispered. His blood felt like ice as he lifted the gun to aim it at his mother.

"W-what?" She stuttered.

"I said, run."

Lorena's eyes widened as she ran from the room. David lowered the gun and walked back into the house, his finger still on the trigger.

"David what's going on?" Johnny caught his brother in the hallway.
"I heard a gunshot, mom ran past us covered in blood."

Two.

His brother's body fell to the ground. David stepped over him and continued to make his way into the kitchen.

He could hear the frantic shouting of his mother and sisters in the kitchen. All three froze as he stepped through the doorway.

"What makes a monster?" He asked, aimed at his sisters.

"Anything not human." Jasmine said quietly, glancing back for her mother's approval.

Three.

Meggan screamed as she collapsed beside he twin. She pushed Jasmine's hair to cover the bullet wound in her head.

"David how could you?!" Meggan screamed, grabbing a knife off of the counter.
"That's our sister!"

"What am I?" David asked, stepping closer.
"I've killed my father, brother and one sister."

"You're a monster!"

"But I'm human?"

"Are you really killing your own family to prove a point?" Lorena screamed, pulling Meggan behind herself.

"You said we're hunters." David said, his eyes glazed over.
"You said it's our job to protect humanity from monsters."

"We aren't monsters! Your ex-girlfriend is!" Meggan screamed as another shot went off.

Four.

Lorena collapsed, staring at the now lifeless bodies of her two daughters. She sobbed as she weakly pulled Megan's body into her arms.

"Do you get it now, Mother?" David asked.
"Any species is capable of great good or great evil."

"David they're monsters! I've seen entire families destroyed by these things!" Lorena pleaded with him.
"My sister was killed by a demon, David! I'm just trying to stop other families from feeling the loss I did."

"Was your sister killed by Curtis?"

"What?" Lorena shook her head for a moment.
"No, but that doesn't matter. He wasn't human."

"He was a good man. He never would have hurt anyone." David said softly, glancing down at the floor.
"And you've just watched another family get destroyed, but by a human this time."

Her eyes widened as she shook her head.

"You can stop all of this, if you kill me and admit it's the soul that makes the monster." David said almost sweetly as he bent down to face his mother. He rest the gun's barrel against his forehead, grabbing his mother's hand and forcing her to hold it.
"It's the soul not the species."

"No." She hook her head, struggling against her son's hold.
"Anything not human is a monster."

David turned the gun around to rest against his mother's head.
"You're wrong."

Five.

David walked upstairs to Tobias's room, opening the door softly to find his little brother sitting on his bed, tears streaming from his eyes.

"David what's going on? I heard screaming and gunshots." Tobias sobbed, slowly standing from his bed.
"David, I'm scared."

"I need to tell you something before I leave, Toby." David smiled softly at his younger brother, tears welling in his eyes.
"Always remember. It's the soul that makes the monster Toby, not the species."

"I don't understand David."

"I know. I have to go now Toby." David stepped towards his brother, kissing his forehead before walking out.
"Maybe you'll understand someday. I'm so sorry Toby. I love you, Little Brother. I'll miss you."
...

Kitty's laughed echoed through the hall as Takado carried her back to their room. They both grinned from ear to ear, excited to be home from their honeymoon.

Kitty smiled as Takado gently set her on her feet, the smell of lavender, vanilla and pine greeting them as they entered their room.

"Welcome home, Sweetheart." Takado whispered in her ear. 
Kitty giggled before throwing herself onto their bed.

"I know it was only a week, but it's so nice to be home." Kitty stretched on the bed, smiling softly.
"Our bed is a lot more comfortable than the hotel's."

"Oh really?" Takado asked. He leaned over her, taking her lips in his. 
"Maybe we should give it a couple of test runs."

Kitty purred softly as Takado trailed kisses along her neck. She lifted her arms, resting them on his shoulder's.
"I love you."

Takado smiled, gently meeting his lips to hers.
"And I love you Mrs.Rovain."

Kitty giggled turning on her side as Takado laid down beside her. She stretched once more, sleepily making herself comfortable.

She glanced at the clock for a moment before laying her head on her husband's arm.
Her eyes flew open as she sat up and reached for the emerald green envelop sitting on the nightstand in front of the clock.

"What's that?" Takado yawned, craning his neck to see what she'd grabbed.

"I don't know." Kitty mumbled as she gingerly opened the envelope and pulled out the handwritten letter.

Kitty ignored Takado's pestering as she unfolded the letter and began to carefully read over the sloppy handwriting.

"No..." Kitty whispered, her eyes wide as she read the letter.
"No."

Kitty dropped the letter from her hand, racing off the bed and out the door. Takado raised an eyebrow in confusion, reaching over to glance over the letter himself.
His heart sank as he read it, quickly dropping it as well and racing after Kitty.

I know now. I know why it was always him and never me. I finally understand the pain I’ve caused you all these years. Katherine… I’m so sorry. I didn’t know what my parents were capable of. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine it.

They can never hurt you again though. I once told you that it’s the soul that makes the monster, not the species. As a descendant of hunters it’s my job to eradicate monsters, and I did just that.

You’re safe now. I’m not naive, I know there are more hunters out there, but at least the ones that specifically wanted you are gone now.

I love you Katherine, that may be the wrong thing to say to a married woman, but I do. That will never change. Thank you for trying to protect me from the truth at the cost of your own heart. You don’t have to hurt anymore though. You found your other half. Takado loves you in a way I’ve never seen, and I hope you have a long happy life with him.

I hope I can find a love like you’ve found… in the next life.

This isn’t your fault. So please… don’t stop smiling. I love you. Good bye Kitty.

David.

"David!" Kitty screamed as she hit the door to his apartment. 

"David please! Open the door!"

"Kitty, you're going to hurt yourself." Takado grabbed her wrist before she hit the door again.

"Why are you here?" Kitty pushed him away from her as tears fell from her eyes.

"My wife goes running out of the house and you really think I'm not going after her?" Takado frowned, taking a step closer to her.

"Do you want me to break the door down?

Kitty glanced at the door briefly before looking back to her husband and nodding.

Takado nodded in return before slamming his shoulder against the wall, breaking it off of it's locks and allowing it to swing open.

Takado's eyes widened and Kitty sank to the ground, crying more than she already had been. Takado took a step back, bending down to wrap an arm around her.

"We should call the police." Takado said softly. Kitty pulled away from him, covering her eyes with her hands.

Kitty whimpered, lifting her eyes to the sight before her. There was more blood than Kitty would have though natural. It was on the furniture, even some had dripped on to the wall.

David lay silently on the floor a stem with tiny blue flowers in one hand, and a silver revolver in the other.

Six.