Gods, what happened last night?

My head was pounding, my vision blurry, and my mouth felt like sandpaper. I realized I couldn’t lift one of my arms, I blinked a few times before realizing that Ms. Macabre was laying next to me. My arms were wrapped around her.

Gods what did I do??

I tried to pull my arm out from under her, and she shifted in her sleep. Suddenly we were face to face, I felt my cheeks heat up as she continued to dream. Her mouth was open ever so slightly and I could see more of her tusks than usual. I admit that they were cute, and she looked so peaceful sleeping. Her face usually rather serious was softer, and I reached out and touched her face with my free hand and

I felt a punch directly to my stomach.

Gods, ow ow ow ow—

Ms. Macabre’s eyes were wide as I wheezed trying to catch my breath, it took a moment for her to realize what was happening.

“Oh gods Gae Lia I’m so sorry,” she pulled herself off me with wide eyes.

“It’s fine,” I gasped. “I startled you, man you have a good punch.”

“Thank you—wait no, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, I’ve been hurt way worse than this.”

She still looked concerned. Gods my head was throbbing while I felt the waves of pain fade from my stomach.

“Let me get you some water,” she began to slide off the bed. “And some pain medication.”
“Much appreciated Ms. Macabre,” I said covering my eyes to try and drown out some of the light.

She came back a couple minutes later with water and some pain potion. I shot down the pain medication and began to gingerly sip on the water.

“Thank you, that helps.”

“Least I can do after sucker punching you while your hungover.”

“Mm,” I said. I still couldn’t remember coming home last night. “We’re going to have to work on the punching thing if we’re going to share a bed.”

“What?” Ms. Macabre’s voice went higher than I’d heard it ever before, and her cheeks had instantly darkened.

“I’m kidding, relax,” I chuckled but stared at her curiously.

“Right,” she cleared her throat, seemingly back to her usual stoic self.

“I think today is not going to be very productive,” I said as I glanced at the clock, it was approaching nine AM. “I doubt Mamushka and Otet are still here or are not busy. Mama will probably stop by later to check in on me.”

“So I have to ask, what’s the situation there?”

“Hm?” I looked over at Ms. Macabre confused. “What do you mean—Oh, right I guess that was never explained.”

I patted the best next to me, and she sat down.

“So, Mama is my biological mom, and I’m her only living child. When I was a baby the last of skirmishes in our home country were petering out, my father was one of the men leading the charge. One night our home was attacked, and my father and older brother were killed. My mother fled with me and contacted a safe house, because of my father’s status she was able to secure passage and accommodation with the Shulaya family. Basically, the revolution was started by Otet and Mamushka about thirty years ago and they promised safety to any families after they left for Kama. For my safety I was adopted by them, and Mama was welcomed in as well. I was raised equally by the three of them, along with a butler or two, and then when I came of age I became the heir.”

“That’s a lot, way more complicated then what I was thinking.”

“You thought they were Polyamorous didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“People usually do,” I chuckled. “I say, ‘I have two moms and a dad’ and everyone usually says ‘good for them’. I don’t ask about my mother’s love life, but I at least know my Mamushka and Otet certainly aren’t.”

 I looked down at my hands, my head wasn’t pounding anymore, and the water had really helped.

“I didn’t make you uncomfortable last night, right?” I said looking at Ms. Macabre.

“No, you didn’t I promise. I was just awkward cause you started crying—

“I was crying?” I groaned embarrassed.

“Yeah, it’s okay though. You fell asleep after I let you hug me, and I pet your head.”

“You pet my…? Oh gods, I was a mess wasn’t I? I’m really sorry for anything I might’ve said or done.”

“You’re fine, don’t worry about it,” she seemed to be trying to me a little too nonchalant.

I let it drop, she would eventually tell me.

“So... Breakfast?” I suggested.

“Yes, breakfast sound great.”

“Come on, I have a dining table in my kitchen,” I awkwardly slid off the bed and began walking towards the stairs. I heard Ms. Macabre follow and I headed up the stairs.

My kitchen is small as it was originally just meant for me or another person. But the ceilings are tall for obvious reasons, so as I pulled out my ingredients Ms. Macabre sat at the kitchen table. I started a pot for coffee and mixed some eggs with some other ingredients before making a quiche and popping that in the oven. The coffee was ready by the time I put quiche in the oven.
I poured us each a cup and sat down at the table across from Ms. Macabre.

“So,” I took a sip. “You got any family?”

“What? Oh yeah I’ve a sister and dad back home,” she looked surprised. “My dad’s the one who got me the job since he used to work for the family.”

“Really?” I was surprised. “Would I know him?”

“Maybe you’d remember him, he worked for the Shulaya’s like ten years ago. His name is Batall.”

“He sounds familiar, but I can’t put a face to a name.”

“That’s all right, he retired but was contacted about the bodyguard job. He said he couldn’t do it but recommended me,” she took a sip of her coffee. “You remembered I like creamer.”

“Yeah, I did,” she smiled a bit and gods are those tusks cute when she smiles.

Stop—

“Thanks.”

I took another sip, before getting up to check on Breakfast. It needed a bit more time.

“So,” I searched for a topic, anything to talk about. But I was saved by a knock on the door downstairs.

“I’ll get it, would you mind pulling the Quiche out in a minute?” I quickly descended the stairs before she could answer. “Who is it?”

“It’s me Rassvet,” I heard my fathers voice come through the door.

I was confused, so I quickly opened the door.

“Hello Otet, what’s wrong?”

“We have a bit of an emergency Alliance meeting, I need you to come,” he looked concerned.

“Of course, let me just put some proper clothes on and let Ms. Macabre know.”

“Right, I’ll meet you at the front door in ten minutes, bring anything you have on Shadow or Dark magic,” his tone was heavy, I was going to ask why but I figured it was best to just comply and find out at the meeting.

“Right, I’ll be out soon.”

He nodded before closing the door.

“Ms. Macabre we’re going to need to head out,” but she was already headed into her room.

“I’m grabbing my armor and shield,” she said at my questioning look.

“Right, I’m going to change and grab my books. Did you pull the Quiche out?”

“Yes, I left it on the counter.”

“Thanks.”

---

I hadn’t seen this table in nearly three months, and last time I did I had a blackeye and was bleeding, fresh off the horror of having to kill my sister as she begged me to. My father clutching me as I sobbed. Now I sat professional and poised, a bag full of books and a bodyguard behind me.

I saw Rodolfo across the table clearly hungover, and an exasperated Mr. Genovese next to him. To their right sat my dear friend Jaden, she looked worse for ware but better than the last time I’d seen her, screaming in agony with her child’s blood dripping from her blade.

“You all are probably wondering why we called this meeting,” Mr. Cherin began, his clawed hands folded under his chin. “Well it seems peace is as fickle as water and we’re dealing with another threat.”

“Great,” I heard Rodolfo mutter.

“Now, we’ve been getting reports of people getting robbed, this is not unexpected of course, but then the reports turned more violent. Then they started targeting our family members. They’ve been getting bolder, going after higher and higher ranked individuals. Based on who was last hit, one of my best hitmen mind you, the next will be some of our higher-ranking members. And after that, you all.”

“What? I’m not even the heir anymore—”
“True,” Mr. Genovese interrupted. “But seeing as I am still in the process of selecting another one, you’re still likely a target.”
“Wonderful,” he sighed.

“They’re using magic,” Otet continued. “Dark magic, reports say it creeps out of the shadows and grabs people. It’s so fast that only one person has escaped thus far.”

“That’s why you requested I bring the books?”

“Exactly.”
“Well I think by the sound of it they’re using a spell called Black tentacles, but that can’t kill people. It’s used to incapacitate.”

“Hmm,” Mr. Cherin looked at me. “Do you think someone modified it?”

“Possibly, more likely they’re using something else to kill. Have any bodies been recovered?”

“None thus far.”

“Well I’ll need to see what they do up close,” I said glancing over at Rodolfo and Jaden. “Looks like we might need to take on another mission—”

“Absolutely not,” Otet immediately interrupted. “Not after last time.”

“I have someone protecting me now,” I argued.

“Yes, but this person has the intent and ability to kill.”

“Which is exactly why we need to stop them.”

“No, I won’t allow it.”

“Otet, I refuse to let anyone else die if I can help.”

“Rassvet, please,” the edge to his voice was creeping into a territory that I was all to familiar with recently.

“Let me help, I’ll stay at a distance, I’ll observe, not engage. Besides, I won’t be alone,” I looked over at Rodolfo and Jaden, who each had a look of grim determination. I took a glance back and saw Ms. Macabre looked serious, but she didn’t look away when I looked at her.

“I said no," Otet's face was pure stone.

"Fine...can we at least continue the meeting?"

"Let's," Mr. Genovese interjected.

Otet's steely face looked at me one last time before looking back at the table. Little did he know, I was going to do it no matter what he said.