Mate of Pennywise

*Chapter 10: One Another*

'Dear lord, what have I done?' Belle thought when she thinks back when she kills the man and eat his meat and drink the blood of his. The teeth she has, the bloodlust, everything. She went over to the mirror and see her emerald slowly turn gold, then back to emerald. Belle opened her mouth to grow those razor teeth again. The teeth slowly turn sharp, but she couldn't grow more teeth like Pennywise did to her before. There is more she could do. Belle turned away from the reflection and sat on the bed, holding her head, thinking things over.

"You alright, dearie?" Robert's voice asked. Belle turned to see him standing by the doorway. His handsome face is neutral, but there is concern in those blue eyes of his.

"Peachy. Just...taking things in. It isn't easy." Belle replied. "Like you said, I'll get used to it."

"Of course. Now, you ready for the next meal?" Robert asked. "And maybe, we could be around the Quarry. I feel like it's best if Pennywise should know more about his mate." Belle raised a brow at him. Does he want to get to know her better? It sure sounds like it. But she really didn't want to hunt down the next victim. More blood on her hands.

Bill, Richie, and Stan are riding their bikes down the street in a quiet neighborhood, talking about stuff they usually do. But Bill was quiet the whole time. Richie turns to his friend.

"Hey, Bill. You okay?" He asked.

"F-f-f-fine." Bill replied.

"Look, Belle is okay. I know it." Stan said, trying to cheer up his friend. "We miss her too. We all do. But we can't do anything."

"And how is she gonna live with that fucking clown? How will he take care of her?" Richie asked. Stan shook his head at him. Bill faces them.

"I don't know how, b-b-b-but I could feel her. Something's telling me that Belle is o-o-o-okay." Bill said. "It's like she is w-w-watching us without us knowing it."

"I feel it too." Stan said. Richie nodded, telling them the same way. The boys don't know how they could feel such a thing. Bill remembered last night he felt someone was watching him without being there. Is Belle psychic? Or is it just Bill's imagination? So, the boys continue to ride off down the street on their bikes to get to Eddie's house.

After a second hunt, Robert and Belle are at the Quarry. They sat on the shore, looking ahead of the lake. There is no one around, only sounds of birds and small splashes. Belle turned to Robert.

"So, what do you want to know about?"

"How are you interested in children in this little town?" Robert asked. "They all seem to know you very well."

"I'm a sitter. My second job." Belle told him. "I know how to handle them by singing lullabies to them, feeding them, read them stories, and play with them. My real job is in the library."

"What do you do there?" Robert asked with interest. "Read all day?"

"It's quiet there, I help people with books, and yes, I do read there."

"And you say you sing?"

"Yes."

"Well, I would love to hear your voice." Robert said with a grin. Belle almost blushed when she sees him smile.

"Maybe someday. I love musicals and I used to take classes to learn how to sing myself. Mostly I like the songs from the Phantom of the Opera." Belle said. Robert asked about the title name and what it's about. Belle figured that Pennywise doesn't know about fairy tales or any of the classic tales that came out years back. So, Belle will be his and Robert's storyteller. Belle told him the long story short about the Phantom of the Opera. He was caught on and interested about this Phantom who fell in with love with Christine Daae because of her beauty and voice.

"And he let her go because she loves somebody else?"

"Yeah. It was sad because the Phantom just wanted her to love him so he could be happy and not be judged by his appearance." Belle replied. "People can be cruel by judging everybody's appearances or hear rumors that aren't so true."

"Do...people judge you around?" Robert asked.

"Sometimes."

"How so?"

"They found me strange. Some think I'm too into fairy tales, most think I should be off with a man at this age since I was living on my own. I'm only 21 years old and...I'm not even ready for marriage. But here I am." Belle said. Robert watches her in silent. He could see her with a partner, but she never had one. She is great with children, so she could've been a great mother herself. But to him, she isn't strange at all. She is special. She has something no human could have. The Shine. This woman is like no other.

"Being different isn't a big deal." Robert said, placing his hand on Belle's shoulder. Belle looked at his hand, then at his face. He looks serious. "When children see Pennywise, they thought he's a normal clown at first, but...he is different. Very different."

"I know he is." Belle said. "But you're different yourself. I guess we're all different in a...unique way." Robert can sense her fear when Pennywise was brought up. But she isn't too terrified since she first met him in at the Neibolt House. "If I may ask, Robert. What...are you exactly?" Belle asked. Robert faces the lake, removing his hand off of Belle's shoulder and spoke.

"I am...the eternal entity." He replied. "I have been on this planet for many decades, before you humans exist. I apparently originated in a void containing and surrounding the universe."

"Oh?"

"I am from the in an inter-dimensional realm. Meaning the Deadlights." Robert exclaimed. "This world and other universes are created by my enemy. The turtle named Maturin."

"...A turtle?" Belle asked, not sure if she heard that right. "The turtle created our universe?"

"Yes. He did." Robert replied. He scowled a little. Belle can tell that he hated the turtle. They're alike, but opposite. They are both billion years old before the Big Bang. Is Maturin alive? Belle would ask, but she thought it would be best not to since Robert despises him just now. She didn't want to anger him. "Every 27 years I sleep, once I wake up, I will feed."

"Why would you feed off of children's fear?" Belle asked. "Is it because they are easier to scare?"

"Yes. I feed for a year and then, I will return to my slumber for 27 years."

"Oh..." Belle started to get worried now. If Pennywise will hibernate, that means she will as well. Will she? She couldn't imagine what it'll be like to sleep for 27 years. Times will change. Her friends and children she babysits will grow old. Bill and the others will be in their 40s. And she will stay young for eternity with a monster. "What was it like? You know, to...sleep for a long time?"

"Dreamless, dark, and...lonesome." Robert replied uneasy. "Once awaken, I was...thrilled to be out and eat children."

"Geez..." Belle sighed. Being asleep for years sounds terrible and boring. She isn't looking forward to it until the end. Robert then tells Belle why Pennywise the Dancing Clown is the form he uses the most because the clown is like bait to children. Makes sense of course. She remembers the dream she had about Pennywise back in the day of Derry. Pennywise was the creature's favorite form to most children he scares and devours.

"You understand about what I am?" Robert asked.

"Yes. I do. You are a shapeshifting being from a different universe." Belle replied. "I never thought that aliens like you could actually exist. Now, I met one and...became a mate of it." Robert chuckled a little. "So, I guess...we should get back?" Belle asked.

"Yes." The two got up and went off to return to the Neibolt House. Belle was glad that she got to know about what Pennywise really was but didn't think he could be that old. That is how immortals are. They live for many decades and possibly never die. Now Belle is one of the immortals. She started to think about the turtle Robert brought up. He didn't tell her more about him since he despises him and only told her that he created Earth and other universes. What is Maturin like? He could be kind since he sounds nothing like Pennywise at all. Belle felt like she will never know.