Chapter 163: 127. Professional Help

"Thank you Cass, Nina," Mrs. Norton said with a smile. "You girls have a good evening."

"You too ma'am," my little sister responded. "See you Wednesday!"

I waved as I added, "Bye Mrs. Norton."

She waved back as Nina and I headed out the front door. It was late Monday afternoon and we'd just finished another shift at the animal shelter, looking after the cute fuzzy critters.

I was still working with the cats and small animals. I cleaned cages and litter trays, refilled food and water dishes or dispensers, and spent time giving each one some personal love and attention. I also played with them to make sure they got exercise and stuff. And Nina spent her time with the dogs, taking them on walks and doing pretty much the same thing as me but with bigger critters.

As we set off across the parking lot together my little sister asked, "Are you coming straight back home with me? Or do you need to go to your place first?"

"Nah I can come with you," I replied. "I don't need to get changed right? We're not doing anything special or fancy are we?"

She shook her head, "I don't think so. Mom and mum didn't say anything about dressing up or anything. It's just a normal dinner at home."

I frowned, "I'm sure there's more to it than that. Something's up, I just don't know what."

"What makes you say that?" she asked with a little frown. "I don't think you're in trouble or anything. They haven't seemed angry or upset about anything."

"They said not to bring Kaylee," I replied quietly. "They weren't rude about it, but they said this was just for family. Just the four of us. If it was a normal dinner they wouldn't have minded having my girlfriend there. So there has to be something going on."

My sister continued to frown as the two of us walked along the sidewalk together. After a couple minutes she suggested, "Maybe they're not comfortable with her now that she's part demon? Or wait, they don't care that I'm a demon. Maybe it's her being part fox that they're uncomfortable with?"

"Or maybe they just want to yell at me some more for making her a tiny demonic foxgirl," I sighed.

Nina shook her head again, "I told you they didn't seem upset or anything Cass. I really don't think you're in trouble."

"We'll see," I mumbled to myself.

The two of us walked in silence for a few more minutes, until my sister asked "What's Kaylee up to? Was she unhappy that she wasn't invited?"

"Nah she seemed fine with it," I replied. "She's staying home with Sasha Cerys and Melanie. I think she was going to bug Sasha to help her learn more demonic magic."

"Oh," was all Nina had to say about that.

The two of us walked quietly for a bit more before she glanced at me and asked, "How are you liking being out on your own? Or I mean, living away from mom and mum? What's it like living with Kaylee and Sasha and the wolfgirls?"

"It's pretty good I guess?" I shrugged. "It's kind of nice actually. We don't all hang out together every single night, but it's fun having all our friends there."

I moved closer and pulled her into a side-hug as I teased, "We miss having you around sometimes sis!"

She blushed but didn't try to squirm out of the hug. Instead she pointed out, "Willow's not there all the time, so it's not just me who's not around."

"She will be soon," I replied. "Maybe not tomorrow, but I'll bet she's going to move in by the end of the week. Or end of the month at the latest. She said her folks were impressed with the place when they visited the other day? They're still thinking it over, but she's confident they'll say yes any day now."

My sister smiled, "I'm sure she's excited about that. What's she up to today? Or tonight? Is she going to hang out with Sash and Kaylee and the wolfgirls again?"

I shook my head as we cut through the school yard, "She said she had to work today, she texted that her parents wanted her to be home with them for dinner tonight? I know she was out most of the day and evening yesterday playing DnD with her old buddies. Maybe her folks are going to give her the good news tonight? Or maybe they just want to spend time with her, knowing she might be moving out soon."

Nina was surprised to hear the part about Willow hanging out with her old friends again. Even though nobody was around as we cut through the ravine she lowered her voice to ask, "Are they still tiny bunnyboys? Kyle and Danny I mean?"

"Nope. Willow asked to have them turned back to normal a few days ago, since they apologized and everything. So that happened last week. Thursday night I guess, they both woke up back in their original forms Friday morning," I told her.

She nodded slowly, then pointed out "Mom and mum will probably be happy to hear that."

"Yeah," I grimaced again. "They definitely weren't happy when they found out about it in the first place."

We were both quiet again for the last minute or so of the walk. Mum's car was in the driveway when we reached the house so we knew both our parents were home. Then Nina opened the door and led me inside. It was a really minor detail but at the same time it was a definite reminder that I didn't live there anymore. I was now the guest, while Nina and our parents were the residents.

She closed the door behind me once I was inside then called out, "Mom mum we're home!"

"Perfect timing girls," mum called back. "Come join us, we're in the kitchen."

I followed Nina into the kitchen where mom's home-made lasagna was just about ready to serve, along with some freshly toasted garlic bread and some roast veggies on the side. Mum had the table set, and both of them greeted my sister and I with hugs.

Then we all got seated and as mom served up the meal mum asked, "How did it go at the animal shelter? If you girls don't mind talking about work that is."

"It was fine," Nina replied. "Lots of cute puppers and doggos, but a lot of the ones from before have already found forever homes. So I'm sure the ones I saw today will find their new families soon too."

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I thanked mom as she set a plate down in front of me then added, "Things were good with me too. The bunnies from a couple weeks ago all got adopted out, so there's no more temptation for me to bring one home. Other than that it's the usual. They're all cute cuddly critters, so they all got lots of love and attention."

Our parents both smiled as everyone started eating. The food was delicious as usual, mom's lasagna was always a special treat. We talked a bit more through dinner, but it was all typical stuff. And I had to admit Nina was right, neither mom or mum were acting upset or angry. They weren't even acting like they were trying to hide anything. It seemed like just a normal Monday night family dinner, which left me wondering why they didn't want me to bring my girlfriend.

On the other hand I decided not to ask, just in case there was something up. Or maybe it was a sore spot with them or something, maybe they really were upset with me for making Kaylee part demon. So mostly I just enjoyed the meal with my parents and my sister, but kept quiet unless someone asked me something specific.

Eventually everyone had enough to eat, then me and Nina helped clear the table. We did the dishes and stuff too, and put away the leftovers and everything. Then as we were just about done tidying up the kitchen mum suggested, "Why don't we all top up our glasses then go sit in the living-room? There's something we need to discuss."

Hearing that set off some alarm bells in my head, like I was right that something was up. Still, nobody seemed upset or anything so I figured I probably wasn't in trouble. I couldn't be sure though, so I ended up feeling kind of anxious anyways, as the four of us all got comfortable. Me and Nina were on the sofa, mom and mum were in a couple chairs facing us.

"What did you want to talk about?" I asked, and despite my efforts it was easy to tell from my voice I was nervous.

Mom gave me a sympathetic smile, "You aren't in any kind of trouble Cass, so please don't worry."

That didn't actually do anything for my nerves so I just nodded, "Ok, but what's going on?"

Mum looked like she was going to say something, then she hesitated a moment before she finally started talking.

"Like your mom said hon, you aren't in trouble. But we are concerned about you," she began. "We've had some concerns for quite a while now in fact. There's been little things we've noticed here and there, going all the way back to the beginning of the year. Things we didn't really know what to make of or what to do with, until it all came to a head at Nina's birthday party."

I cringed a bit and sort of shrank back a bit into the sofa, "If you're going to yell at me about what happened to those council people..."

"Nobody's going to yell at you," mom assured me. "And while we might not approve of what you did with them, we definitely agree that something had to be done."

Mum nodded, "I'm not convinced your solution was merciful, but if I'd been there when they attacked none of those people would be breathing today. I know that might make you uncomfortable hon. But sometimes, with some people, the simplest quickest solution is to just end them. That can also be the most merciful, if it's done quickly and cleanly."

That only made me cringe a little more. She was right that it made me uncomfortable, but mostly because I had a hard time imagining my nice loving caring mum ever taking a life. Even if she did try and attack Nina with a nasty scary knife the first time they met, I kind of filed that away as an 'angel thing' rather than a 'mum' thing.

Then again I vaguely remembered they both said something similar about Mr. Ainsley back in January. After we found out he died when that magic thread connecting his astral self to his body got cut, mum said something about death being another option she'd been considering for the guy. And mom was surprisingly ok with that too.

All that stuff was kind of upsetting to think about though, so I pushed it all aside again. Then I asked once more, "So what is it you want to talk about?"

This time mom had a go at it, and rather than talk around it she just dove straight in.

"It's about what you told all your friends afterwards," she responded. "About identifying yourself as both Cassandra the goddess of chaos and Cass the demon girl."

"Oh," I mumbled as I wished I had my hoodie so I could hide in it. No matter how deep I tried to sink into the sofa it just wasn't deep enough, and suddenly I felt very self-conscious about the way my parents and my sister were all watching me.

Mom and mum were both quiet again too, like they were studying me or something. After a very awkward minute or so it finally occurred to me they were actually waiting for me to say something.

"I don't really want to talk about that stuff," I mumbled quietly. "It's weird and awkward and makes me uncomfortable."

My parents exchanged a glance with each other then mom responded, "We understand that hon. But we think it's important for you to discuss this sort of thing with someone? That doesn't have to mean us though. You might actually be more comfortable talking with somebody else, someone outside your family or friend group. Someone who's trained to help people deal with difficult or confusing or awkward topics."

Mum nodded, "That's actually what we wanted to discuss with you Cass. You remember my friend Rav, don't you hon? You met her briefly last summer. She knows a young woman you could speak with, who's had that sort of training. And she's already familiar with the supernatural. You could talk to her fairly openly about things, without having to worry about keeping those secrets."

My stomach lurched and a cold heavy weight seemed to settle deep inside. My face was probably a little pale as I stared at my folks. And in a quiet anxious voice I asked, "You're talking about a therapist, right? You're saying your angel friend Rav knows a supernatural therapist, and you want me to go into therapy?"

"Does that mean you think I'm crazy?" I added nervously.

"Oh hon of course not!" mom said as she shook her head. "Nobody thinks that, and if anyone called you that they'd have to deal with two angry angel mothers and an angry demon sister."

Mum nodded in agreement, "There's nothing wrong with trying therapy hon. Lots of people need someone impartial they can talk to, or need some help or guidance working through things or figuring things out. A therapist can help with all kinds of problems and issues."

I sighed as I slumped further down into the sofa, "What if I don't really want to talk to a stranger though? What if I don't want to try therapy?"

"Nobody's going to force you Cass," mom replied. "Your mum and I both think it's important you talk about what's going on with you, and someone who's trained to help with this sort of thing might be the best option? But no-one will try and make you do something you don't want to do."

"We know it's scary hon," mum continued. "We know talking about this sort of thing can be difficult, or just plain awkward like you said. But we really think it's important. And like we said, it might be easier to discuss some of these things with someone new, someone you don't have to see as part of your daily life."

Mom asked, "Will you at least consider it please? Sleep on it, take a few days, think it over, before making up your mind?"

"Fine," I sighed again. I was mumbling again as I told them, "I'll think about it, but I really don't think that's going to change anything. I don't want to talk about that stuff, especially not to some stranger."

Both my parents smiled. Mum said, "Thank you hon. That's all we ask, is that you consider it."