Chapter 441 Remember what? [2/2]
It took a few minutes to calm everyone down. Fortunately, I now had a secret weapon. Since the girls had been fighting in the car, they were all covered in a thin layer of sweat. The smell was intoxicating.
As I apologized to each Siren, I simply took the liberty of enjoying their new found organic colognes. The reactions they had were enough to get me off the hook.
'I might end up addicted to this,' I thought to myself.
Upon entering the clearing, the girls and I made our way inside. There were beautiful lanterns on the trees that lit up the path. Their orange glow made the whole area seem magical.
Following the path lit by the lanterns, we moved quickly toward the church. I led the Sirens, who deliberately stayed away from me, through the woods. It was as if they were afraid that I would pounce on them. I found it quite funny cause it was true.
My mind couldn't stay horny though. As we walked through the trees, memories of the time I spent here came rushing back. It was when I was 11 or 12. I asked Noelle to adopt me and when she didn't say yes, I ran here.
It was funny, I ran to Noelle after being beaten by my father. The same father who found me here in the woods. But instead of taking me home, the bastard threw me to a wolf.
I don't remember how I survived. Noelle said I killed a wolf. But neither I nor anyone else found the animal's body. Even after Noelle beat the shit out of my father, he didn't fight back and drank his troubles away.
"What the hell happened here all those years ago?"
I awoke in a daze and felt familiar soul signatures coming out to greet us. Because of the {Sonar}, I could now sense the Reapers faster than I could identify them. Of course, the Sirens were the same. All but Bella drew their weapons.
The incoming group all raised their hands when they detected the killing intent.
"My ladies, it is I, Phillip Scrivener. I am with Cynthia Carmine and Van Micron. Please lower your weapons. Lady Noelle and lord Earl are also with us."
At his declaration, the Sirens quickly hid their weapons. Not a second later, my adoptive parents arrived. And they were dressed for a formal occasion.
Taking this as my queue, I turned around and faced my girls.
"Everyone, even though I cannot wait to become one with you all, my mother demanded that I first make a vow to Heaven. I am to swear that I will take you all as my wives. As such, Hellsend has prepared a small wedding here."
' Exa, [Commander] [Overdrive] {Day by Day}.'
[[Sniper] setting shifting to [Commander]. [Commander] levels up to [Field General].]
[[Knight] setting shifting to [Commander]. [Field General] levels up to [Warlord].]
I manifested six soul-created avatars using my soulgear. Along with my main body. I approached each Siren and gently took their hands in mine.
"I want to do right by you. I know I should wait until we are really married, but I am impatient. I am terrified at the thought of someone else stealing you away from me." X7
The girls smiled beautifully as they listened to my heartfelt words.
"Please marry me, right here and right now. With our family and heaven as our witness." X7
The girls looked at each other and suddenly kissed each of my avatars. Along with their affection, a boatload of happiness drowned Pseudo Kindred connection.
They all separated from me at the exact same moment, pushing my bodies into one place.
"Dearest. It is unlucky to see the brides before the wedding. Wait here.
"Shujin, we need to redo our makeup. Please give us some time to prepare."
"Husband, if you are not here when we return, I will punish you."
"That's too simple, Jas, I will fucking kill you, darling! Then I will follow soon after!"
"Nut job, be serious. Possum. Do not leave this place. That goes for all seven of you!"
"Honey, you have to take responsibility for this dream you hear!"
"Haha! Everyone seems embarrassed, my love. I am counting the seconds until I become yours. Wait for me."
With that promise, the Sirens followed Van and Cynthia and left. Noelle and Earl approached me with ironic smiles. I canceled {Day by Day} since it was just us.
"It seems my daughters are a little strong-willed," Earl joked.
"A little? If I hadn't met them, I probably wouldn't have allowed Dipshit to marry them, Appleboo."
"That's all right, Ma, I love them, flaws and all. Did you have any trouble getting here?"
"No Dipshit we didn't. Forget about that. Aren't you going to ask why I told your goons you wanted to get married here?"
Actually, I didn't. If you asked any groom where he wanted to get married, I doubt most of them would even care. The brides were the ones who made a big deal out of such matters.
"I don't, Ma. Is there a special reason?"
"It seems you really don't remember."
"Remember what?" I asked confused.
"It was when I picked you up here when you were twelve. You were all bruised and bleeding. But that wasn't the most amazing thing. It was what you said. Do you remember how you ended up here to begin with?"
"I do, it was the same day I asked you to adopt me. You said no, and I ran all the way here after that. I met my father and he threw me to a gray wolf."
Noelle bit her lip before answering.
"Yes, it was that very night. At the time I thought it was all my fault. I thought that maybe if I had agreed, you wouldn't have to go through such hardship."
I felt guilty when I heard Noelle's words. Besides not remembering what happened, the Simmons had their own problems to deal with.
It was never easy to add another mouth to feed, especially when they weren't well off to begin with.
"It's okay, Ma, don't worry about it. I know you love me like a son. That is enough. But what did I say here? Was it something important?"
"When I came to get you, you were burning up with a fever and you were delirious and you kept repeating two phrases like a mantra." Experience tales at empire
"What were the phrases?"
"They were 'I cannot die' and 'I will have a family. "
"..."
Noelle ran up and hugged me.
"Dipshit, you have no idea how sorry I was at that moment. That is why I knew when you proposed to the girls that you had found your family. I had planned to bring the girls here before you were married. If only to let them know what happened then."
Hearing Noelle's words, I must have wanted a loving family so badly. To the point that I might have survived because of it. If you put the two sentences together, it would be.
'I cannot die until I have a family.' Or 'I will have a family, so I cannot die.'
Both meant different ideas. But what was certain was that twelve-year-old John Smith was so desperate for a family that he was willing to kill a gray wolf for it.
Understanding how much this must have hurt Noelle, I smiled as I returned her embrace.
"It's okay now, Ma. Thank you for reminding me. And don't blame yourself. You nursed me back to health afterwards, that was the first time I felt like I had a mother," I said with a smile.
Noelle began to cry on my shoulder like a child. Earl joined us in the hug and we spent a few moments in the light of the lanterns in the woods being thankful for family.