Angel Monarch

Sera didn't have time to think because of Nightmare.

"Come, My Love. Sit next to me!"

With a sigh she approached the chair on his left. This way she could sit next to the girl.

'What happened to her? We haven't heard from her since Faith's escape.'

Nightmare smiled at the two of them.

"Oh, how mindless of me! You two haven't even met each other. Or at least in person." There was anger in his voice.

'So he figured it out. But she didn't know our exact plan. How did he know?'

The anger from Nightmare's face disappeared like it never existed, and he smiled at them.

"My Love, meet Freak! Freak, meet My Love! But you can call her mother since we are now a happy family, don't we?" There was a Mad grin on his face.

Sera's face was emotionless, but the girl didn't react like that. She actually smiled at Sera, like this is the best news she ever heard.

'How did she stay this innocent through all the suffering?'

"It's nice to meet you mother!"

She was grinning from ear to ear, which meant that Sera saw her mouth and all the missing teeth. Actually now that Sera looked more closely there was a lot of bodyparts missing. An ear, two fingers and judging by the weird way she leans on one side, there are missing ribs as well.

Without her knowledge Sera's left hand held a knife and was trembling from anger. Suddenly a small hand touched the hand. Sera looked down at the kid and saw something that made her really sad, understanding. The girl only pretended to be innocent.

She quickly released the knife and instead held the little girls hand.

"It is nice to meet you too... daughter." It sounded weird on her tongue, but not uncomfortable.

"Okay, now that the introductions are done, lets eat!"

He didn't let the two of them to put their own food on their plates. He said it's the maid's job. But it was just an excuse so he can touch them inappropriately. The maids didn't even seem to notice, there was no emotion showing on their faces.

Sera still held the girl's hand and didn't release it throughout the dinner. She felt a connection with this girl, like both of them lived in the same hell.

After dinner Nightmare left them and they went into the girl's room. Her room was actually nice with a good bed, a table for drawing, books and toys. But it lacked a human soul, it was full of items but contained no happiness. It wasn't lived in.

Sera and the girl sat on the bed. Both looked very sad, but at least they weren't alone. After a while Sera spoke first.

"I think you need a real name, not something that monster gave you."

The girl looked very excited, it's like she was about to get a present.

"I think your name should be Victoria. Do you like it?"

The girl thought for a moment, then energetically nodded while grinning

"Do you know what that name means?" Said Sera while smiling, it wasn't a sad smile for once. The girl shook her head. Sera put an arm over her shoulder and pulled her close, then she whispered.

"It derives from the word victory, and for us it means we won."

The girl looked very confused and she finally spoke. Her voice was high pitched and beautiful, very unlike the torture marks all over her.

"But if we won, why are we still with him?" Sera pulled her even closer and began to stroke the girls hair.

"It's because we did win, there were a lot of people living even worse life than us. But we rescued them, they can live in relative peace now. Yes it is sad that we can't enjoy that, but that doesn't mean it wasn't a victory. And now your name signifies that."

Victoria looked thoughtful, trying to process all the information Sera said. After a while she began hugging Sera's midsection. Desperate for any human contact.

"I... I know... I know Nightmare said it as... as a weird form of torture, but... but can I... can I still call you..."

She didn't have to finish the sentence for Sera to understand what she wants to know. With her other hand Sera reached and pulled up Victoria's chin gently, so she looked up at her. Then with a smile she said.

"Yes, you can call me mother. Every little girl needs a mother."

Victoria's smile was beautiful and her eyes became watery. She suffered so much and finally found someone to rely on was an amazing feeling.

'It's not like I didn't want children, but I didn't expect to become a mother so soon... Or that I will be alone in motherhood...'

While Victoria was crying from happiness and desperately clutching Sera, she began to cry as well but not from happiness.

After a couple of minutes Sera pulled herself back together and continued to stroke Victoria's head. She even began to hum a melody from her own childhood.

It was sad, but hopeful just as they were. Sad because of their reality, hopeful because they could rely on each other.

After about an hour her daughter finally fell asleep, Sera tucked her into the bed and silently left the room. In the door she stopped to look back at Victoria. Sera watched her for a couple of minutes a small smile playing on her lips.

'It might sound insane, but I'm happy that I found her. Even though it took this much suffering.'

Sera was about to turn and leave, when a hand grabbed onto her waist. She tried her hardest not to shudder. The feeling of Nightmare this close to her, was the worst thing she ever felt.

He kissed her neck and Sera supressed the trembling of her body. He whispered onto her neck.

"Come My Love. Lets have some fun."

Nightmare led away Sera from her daughter's room and into another bedroom. There were tears in her eyes.

'Maybe if he can torture me, he will leave Victoria alone.'

With these thoughts she endured. It was hard, but until her new daughter would be fine, none of it mattered.