Inheritance

Chapter 38- Dead Alive

The next day, as I sat reading, I kept wondering about Nightmares past. And so when he inevitably appeared, I decided to test my luck.
"Hey nightmare?"
"What?"
"You know that story you told before, with the killer and the boy?"
"Yeah what about it?"
"Its you isn't it? I just wondered since you seemed to be hiding your emotions while you told it. What was the boys name?"
"I don't want to relive my past, Azriel." His tone was an obvious warning, but I kept going.
"I'm curious. What is your real name and why don't you want to tell anyone?"
"Personal reasons."
"I'm guessing its like me and my name. I don't want to share it cause it reminded me too much of my nature. So I'm guessing yours is-"
"I said I don't want to talk about it Scratch. And if you push me I'll show you why." He glared at me. I swallowed, and knowing this might possibly get him to kill me I continued onward.
"...What was the boys name?"
For a split second I saw uncontained fury plain on Nightmares face, but as it came it soon left, and he looked away.
"Nico."
I leaned in a bit closer, as a child might when listening to a elder tell a story, because this was the only piece of information I got so far.
"What was he like?" I asked slowly, careful not to go too quickly in fear of Nightmare getting angry again.
"He was kind, and loyal, and his smile could light up a whole room. He was always optimistic, thinking on the good rather then the bad."
Nightmare was looking away, and I could tell he was remembering things from his past.
"He sounded like a good friend."
"He was more then that to me. He was the one person who had ever treated me like a normal person. Everyone else shamed me, or ignored me. Usually calling me half-breed. He made me feel, well, myself."
"And then he died... What happened when YOU died though? Because its quite obvious your not completely dead."
Nightmare glared at me, a flicker of annoyance, then sighed.
"Isn't it obvious, Azriel? I destroyed myself."
"You... Wait how?"
"Your really pushing it."
"I just want to know. You are probably the only person in the universe who has died and became a ghost. So I'm curious by nature."
"And I don't want anyone repeating my mistakes! When I died, Azriel, I was in the worst state of my life. I have no doubt that anyone who goes through what I did will feel the exact same thing. And you want to know what's even worse? You remember EVERYTHING Scratch. Every god damn thing that happened and is happening. You don't forget it over time, oh no. You have to suffer through what you did for the rest of your undead life. Every mistake, every time someone you liked dies, EVERYTHING. I'm not telling you how to do it, Azriel Darkbringer, because I know you'll never understand it until you go through it. Now leave me be."
And with that he stormed away, disappearing into shadows.
I stood there, stunned. After a few minutes I started going to my bookshelf. I dug around until I found a large, worn down, book. Carefully I flipped through the pages until I found what I was looking for.
"Nico... Nico.. Ah, here it is." I stopped at a page. Here is what the article said:

        ...Was Abaddon's loyal companion and friend. When Abaddon died, Nico was captured for interrogation and kept in custody. However, he refused to give any information to the authorities. Within a few weeks he had escaped, using a fellow inmate as a distraction, and vanished without a trace. Reports say that before he left he had stolen a ancient artifact known for its rumours as a immortal source of life. Not much is known about this artifact, except that the user will have to pay a price, one involving demon royalty, in order to use it...

"Nico's alive" I whispered. I knew it was impossible, but here it was. And I can only assume Abaddon is Nightmare, because its the only name that would fit the description.
I smiled. Nightm- Abaddons going to be surprised when he hears this.