MariEtta

“We’ll take your bags miss” MariEtta shakes her head, “It’s okay I got it”. She looks up at the black house in front of her. This paint is… interesting… A pan knocks on the door, “I can knock on the door myself…” She mumbles and the door opens. 

“MARIETTA!” “NIA!” MariEtta yells excitedly and she chuckles before hugging her. 

“Come in! Come in! I want to know everything that's been going on!” Nia chirps excitedly. MariEtta chuckles and walks into the house. “Why are you carrying your own bags? Lui! MariEtta’s here!” She smiles at MariEtta and quickly takes her bags. 

“MariEtta!” Lui hugs MariEtta and she smiles. Nia comes back downstairs, “So! What do you want to do today?” 

“I don’t know but it feels great to be out of the castle again!” She says stretching. Lui pauses and thinks for a few seconds, “We could go out to dinner! Well, now it's around lunchtime… We could go out for lunch?”

“Yeah, do you wanna do that MariEtta?” MariEtta nods “It's just Mari or Etta now-”

Lui and Nia both look at each other, then at her “She’s growing up so fast!” MariEtta laughs. “We can go now” Nia grabs her car keys. They all leave and get in the car and MariEtta sits in the backseat.

“How’s baby Attam?” “Well, he’s not a baby anymore…? And he’s a dick to me when Orpheus isn’t around because he thinks he’s better than me…?” 

Lui chuckles, “is he?” MariEtta sighs and Nia looks at Lui, “Don’t say that!” “I mean… He’s the castle seer, and he basically lives in that library- so what two hobbies do you have?” 

MariEtta sighs, “He’s also psychic, and a boy, and he can fight, and sing, and he can cook, and he’s already a vampire, and he looks like mom… And has her personality… And did I mention he’s a boy?” 

“Well… You could learn to fight and cook? And you're already a decent singer?” MariEtta scoffs, “I’m practically the worst singer in this entire family.” “No no no- your uncle is tone deaf.” Lui says smiling, “Sorry you can’t be as fabulous as me, Attam and Orpheus” 

Nia shrugs and says, “I think you should just stop saying no to getting turned? As the oldest, you don’t have to be good at anything but being queen?” They stop in front of the cafe. “But I don’t feel like that… Not while I'm in the castle-” Nia stops the car and Lui opens the door for MariEtta then Nia. “Then it’s a good thing you're not in the castle?” Lui says confused. 

Nia looks at her excitedly, “And we have some neighbors around your age and we can turn the nursery into your room!” MariEtta looks at them confused and sits at a table, and they both follow her. 

“... Nursery? Anything you want to tell me... Nanna?” “Don’t call me that. We are in public!” Nia says quickly. “And for your information… We were considering having another kid but this is even better we don’t have to change any diapers” 

Lui looks up from the menu, “I can teach you how to cook-” “And I can… Show you how to do anything else on that… Ridiculously long list” He mumbles.

MariEtta raises an eyebrow as if she actually has to consider if she wants to stay. 

“I mean we obviously already planned on me staying?” Lui chuckles, “I know but YOU have to tell your brothers for it to stick” MariEtta shrugs and calls Orpheus and she puts it on speaker. “Phey- I’m not coming back to the castle” The phone is silent for a few seconds.

“Okay… Well, what’d Attam say?” MariEtta stares at the phone with an annoyed expression, and she grits her teeth “I'm telling you first why does what Attam has to say matter?” 

“Because you're his best friend?” She looks up confused, “No I’m not? You are?” “Yeah- but he likes you more?” “No, he doesn’t?” She says confused. “Literally before I left he said I’m better off here because I have nothing to offer the castle as a human” 

“Because you don’t?” MariEtta furrows her eyebrows and Nia and Lui both look at each other and back at her. “Wait- I didn’t mean it like that- don’t hang up on me! I mean- you don’t have anything to offer the castle- YET” She rolls her eyes, “your sugar coating that I have to get turned to do anything and Attam hates me-”

Orpheus chuckles, “Just… Tell him” She nods, “I love you” “I love you to Mari” She hangs up. MariEtta moves her hair out of her face and calls Attam. “Hel-” “Do I have to help you hide a body?” MariEtta rolls her eyes, “No... I was just going to tell you I’m not coming back to the castle- I’m staying with Nia and Lui-” 

“What?” “I'm staying with Nia and Lui.” There's a few seconds of silence, “Why? When are you coming back?” “I don’t know-” He’s silent again. “Are you gonna be okay there by yourself? Want me to come?” She shakes her head, “No…? I’m okay-”. “You sure?” “Yep.” She says hesitantly. “Oh… Okay… Uhm… I’ll call you later then? I love you” She smiles, “I love you too”

She hangs up and looks up at them, “It doesn’t seem like he hates you to me?” Nia looks at her confused and MariEtta shakes her head. “No… I’m pretty sure he does… But! I told them! Now, these neighbors… How close to my age are they? And are they cute?” Lui gets up to order the food. 

“I don’t think they have threads yet? Their names are Aiden and Asher. They’re really nice-” MariEtta smiles, “Oh? When can I meet them?” Nia shrugs, “Probably next week on Monday when you have school” MariEtta cocks her head and stares at her. 

“What do you mean school…” She pauses, “Well it’s not actual school? It’s a pre college program. You'll get 6 credits by the end.” “You're sending me to college camp.” She says confused and Nia pauses and nods. 

MariEtta looks at her with a panicked expression, “What am I gonna wear?”