Again, my apologies for the long wait.

The Ancient Magus Bride belongs to Kore Yamazaki

Something was wrong.

The air had felt off from the second she entered the building yet she had been unable to denote why. But in the corner of her eye, she saw it. It resembled the hand of a woman with bits of jewelry and dead flesh clinging to its fingers. It clicked its nails rhythmically against the shoulder of an oblivious classmate, biding its time. Horrific as it was, the implication behind it was even more so.

Had they finally lost their fear of Elias? Were they growing bolder? She desperately wanted to see him, to assure herself she was safe. But it was another half hour until lunch.

As casually as she could, she let her hand dangle below her desk trailing her fingers through her shadow. They passed through the air unhindered.

Every muscle in her body tensed like the string of a bow.

Where had he gone? Had he been gone for long? Why didn't she notice till then? Was he in trouble? Why hadn't he said anything?

She tried to swallow the painful lump forming in her throat. She just had to sit still another thirty minutes. But so much could happen in that time. Should she ask to be excused to the restroom? Would she even make it out of the hall without being attacked? Somehow she found the will to face forward, wincing at every tick of the clock's hands. When it finally erupted at the lunch bell, she sprinted out of the classroom. Lunch was being passed out but she ignored it looking everywhere she could. But he was nowhere.

She couldn't breathe.

Dazed, she stumbled before catching herself against the lockers, her forearm supporting her body. A cold sweat broke out on her brow as she struggled to draw a breath. He had abandoned her. Left her alone like all before him. A ragged exhale clawed out her lungs. In her heart, she knew it had just been a matter of time until-

"Chise?"

She nearly jumped out her skin at a tap on her shoulder. Just barely stifling a scream, she tensed in anticipation. She wasn't protected anymore, she could only run. Slowly opening her hand against the locker she steadied herself, ready to face whatever demon had recognized her vulnerable state. Braced to run she opened her eyes and blinked.

Before her stood...herself?

But...not herself. The doppelgänger had silvery blond hair and ash gray eyes, wearing a monochrome skirt and poncho. But the face was similar to the point of absurdity.

She shook her head, she couldn't afford distractions. A kitsune had played a similar trick before claiming to be her long lost grandmother.

"Excuse me but I have to go." She made to leave but the girl grabbed her hand.

"Chise, it's me."

She stared back at the girl, the gears in her head turning. As she looked, past the girl's shoulder she saw three small neighbors scurry away in varying shades of disappointment. She looked back to the girl bearing an uncanny resemblance to her. More so than any of her relatives.

Her eyes widened. "Elias?"

He grinned and laced his fingers in her hand.

"Wha-, what are you, how-" she strode with his hand in tow down the hallway until they were completely out of sight. Checking to see if the coast was clear she looked him over once again. Out of the dozen questions swarming in her head, she finally settled on one "why do you look like me?"

Disappointment colored his expression. The strange notion of his face emoting drove Chise's attention to the most familiar aspect of him. Even then, his eyes told the most. "I wanted to spend time with you."

"But," she shook her head, "why like this?"

His eyes narrowed, lips tightening in disdain before loosening again in something akin to...sadness. "Because humans get to spend time with you where I can't."

Chise didn't know what to say. Confronted with a desire for her time and attention, she couldn't understand why anyone craved that. And Elias, they spent time together every day. Did he actually… want even more time with her? Well, Reina and class had been more demanding as of late. But still, she had to laugh a bit. There was one flaw in his plan as is.

"Elias, you're not a student here, you can't come to class with me."

His eyes widened, lips parting opening like his jaws often did in bewilderment. "Oh...I, did not think of that." he sighed, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to distress you." a small blush colored his cheeks.

Chise smiled at his adorable display of embarrassment. "It's ok," she said, taking back his hand, "Let's get lunch." He nodded, dissolving into shadow at her feet.

Lunch proceeded with little time for conversation. During which Elias reappeared still looking like her double. She wanted to question this but found they had no time to do so as their break had already been cut short.

As the class bell tolled, he returned to her shadows beneath the desk. To her vast relief, the neighbors once again kept their distance thanks to his ever-present influence. But she was still left with the strange implications of his actions. He said he had wanted to spend time with her, but that couldn't be all of it. Did he also want space? Freedom? Was he growing tired of being cooped up in cramped spaces or forced into hiding? It made perfect sense honestly, and her heart tugged in guilt.

When class finally ended and they left the school grounds she was startled when Elias appeared next to her in the facade again.

"Let's get something to eat." He said eagerly, grabbing her hand. She nodded unsure what else to do. He dragged her along the city streets until his eyes came upon a small cafe. "Is this ok?" He asked and she once again nodded along.

It was an awkward affair, waiting in the busy line with chattering all about them. The store was too loud for thoughts let alone constructing an order. Chise half-heartedly chose the first thing she saw on the menu for both of them. She stepped back to wait for their order to be called noticing that Elias did not follow her. He strode past the counter finding an empty booth before plopping down. Confused, Chise followed. "The waiting area is upfront."

"I know, but let's eat here." He stated plainly.

Chise frowned but sat across from him. Their order was called quickly and Elias sprung up to retrieve it. As he walked Chise couldn't help but notice the eyes of the patrons looking to him however briefly. A few children would linger and stare at him, but most looked for a moment before returning to what they were doing. And she saw Elias reacting to the people looking at him. The faintest of smiles lifting his eyes.

It made her heart twist.

It was impossibly foolish and selfish but she was infuriated at the idea that she had to share his presence with anyone. They all had family and friends they could go to. She only had him. In desperation to distract herself, her hands found one of the complementary menus and held it in front of her nose. She dimly registered the sound of plastic trays being placed on the table.

"Uh Chise, I've brought our food. What are you-" He jumped as she slapped the menu down.

"I just wanted to look." She said curtly, "Thanks for getting our sandwiches." she grabbed something from the tray, stuffing in her mouth without looking.

Elias blinked at her sporadic movements but followed suit. The sight of him eating with a human mouth and face was unsettling in a way she couldn't place. They finished quickly, chasing breadcrumbs down with water. Chise strode out the cafe with Elias in tow.

"Are we ready to head back to the apartment?" Elias said suddenly.

"What?!" she whipped her head back at him in bafflement. "No- why?"

"Well, If Reina is there I could be present and she won't…" He trailed off an odd shyness dancing in his free hand.

Despite herself, Chise chewed on the idea he had presented. She had never had a friend she could bring to the apartment. A new pair of eyes, a threat of accountability...the possibilities astounded her. But still, her mind returned to the restaurant. The brief interactions with strangers had been enough to make her blood boil. The thought of her hateful cousin getting any interaction with him...She ground her teeth.

"I really..." She took a steadying breath, weighing her words like land mines. "don't want to go back...if we don't have to yet. Besides, we can't talk openly if she is there"

"Oh," His face was unreadable, "Okay."

She swung back forward and charged onward. Elias attempted to speak with her but her answers never exceeded two words. Her feet turned at the crossing to their clearing before her eyes even saw it. They slid down the ditch, Elias struggling to keep his footing at her pace. They didn't even slow down at the bottom. Once they reached their clearing trekking through the woods Elias stopped in place forcing Chise to halt.

"Chise" He pleaded, tugging at her outstretched arm, "what is wrong?"

She scowled and threw down his hand. "Why are you doing this Elias?" She spun on her heels to face him, "I don't understand!"

He gawked at her, never having seen her angry like this. "Because I want to spend time with you," his voice was breathless "like humans get to."

"But what's wrong with the time we already have together?" Her head fell downward, her anger melting. "The time we spend, just you and me, is it not enough? Am I-"

"No." His hands clamped onto her shoulders. "Our time spent in each other's company is everything to me and I want all of it."

Something clicked in Chise's head at his words. It was so obvious.

"Elias," Her face rose to meet his strange gray eyes, "Are you, jealous of...other humans." His intense face fell.

"Jealous?" He said tilting his head. "What is that? How would I know?"

"Jealousy," Chise knew this feeling more clearly than she could describe, "is a feeling of wanting what others have. When you see someone with something you want but don't have, you begin to feel bitter and angry as if they've hurt you." She gripped her arm and evaded his gaze again. It was hard enough to voice her pathetic insecurities without looking in a mirror. "Your chest starts to hurt, and it's hard to breathe. You want to get away even though you feel stuck in place."

"That is how I feel when I see other humans with you." He answered without hesitation. "People that belittle and harm you get to spend time with you and I feel as though they have stolen something from me."

A small gasp came from Chise's lips. It made sense in a bizarre way. But she had never thought of herself as something to be envied. She was used to being cast aside as soon as possible. Being sought after was...enticing.

"Elias, I do have to spend time with other humans," she took his hands on her shoulders cradling them gently, "But they do not have something you don't." Slowly, she returned his gaze once again, "I'm in their company because I have to be. I'm in yours because I want to be."

It was his turn to gasp. He faced upward in revelation before pulling her in a tight embrace. "I see. I don't know if this makes seeing you endure hardship any easier but, I understand it better."

Chise hesitantly returned his embrace, her mind drawing back on their brief time in the cafe. Her feelings toward sharing Elias were similar to those he just described to her but she couldn't shake the strange doubt she had felt seeing his eyes light up at the looks of others.

"Elias, do you prefer looking like this?" She felt him stiffen.

"I...don't know. It's uncomfortable," his throat bobbed uncertainly, "as if everything is slightly off. But...I prefer the way people look at me like this."

She gripped the back of his poncho, fearing her next words. "Even...even me?"

Slowly he untangled from her embrace holding her at arm's length. His eyes wore a calm look of curiosity as he studied her face. After a moment he tilted his head in slight confusion and the human face before her drifted away, swirling and shaping into the face she knew.

Through some dormant instinct, Chise felt her body relax. Even as she strained to meet his gaze at his full height, the tension in her face loosened into the smile that appeared only when she was truly safe.

His jaws parted briefly and he sighed, the warm breath tickling her bangs.

"I like the way you look at me."

I want to say thank you to everyone who has been reading this series. And in the last chapter several people mentioned how they were glad I was ok in the insanity that has been this year. And I can't begin to say how grateful I am for all the people that cared about me. Thank you so much, I hope you all remain safe and I will see you in the next chapter :)