Chapter 19: House of Grimoore

  Time: 9:34, Day: Kiviber, Week: 3, Month: K?rgoyde, Year: 36651

  “Gods Ayanna! What were you thinking?! Why take his pants?” Ayanna said, her wings fluttering as she threw herself face down onto the makeshift couch. She let out a shrill scream as she kicked and flailed like a spoiled child, her tail thrashing back and forth but not actually hitting anything.

  She swiftly pulled herself up and onto her knees, her face so red that it almost looked as if her head were on fire.

  “It wasn't that big… It’s not like he was dragging a tree trunk or anything… Right? No, it's not… Right? It was just because he was so close. Yea, he was just too close and it's the first one I've ever seen, so of course it looked big. Yea, that's it!” Ayanna slapped her left fist in her right palm, a wide assured smile across her face.

  “I don't know, Nephal, seemed to be a lot bigger than normal. I kind of understand why your mother was so obsessed with it.” Fate's voice whispered through Ayanna's head, making her blush even more as her smile faded and her left hand’s fingers barely touched her bottom lip.

  “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!” Ayanna flopped herself back onto the couch, trying to bury her face further into the cushion as she tried to scream over the echoing laughter in her head.

  “Not too long ago you were a proud, pretend, Succubus. How far you've fallen!” Fate adds between laughing.

  Ayanna's face, neck, ears, and chest all burn with furious embarrassment, and yet she still mumbles incoherently that it wasn't really that big.

  Finally she sits back up, on her knees on the couch.

  “You know what, so what if it's that big, it'll be mine one day anyways!” Ayanna said, smiling triumphantly.

  Just as the words leave her lips, Lilith and Elstraya walk in.

  “What's big? When's it gonna be yours? Can I fight it?” Lilith asked, guiding Elstraya in and seating herself on a cushion between the hearth and the couch.

  “I have a feeling it's between her and her wolf, so we probably don't want to know.” Elstraya said, gliding down onto her wife's lap.

  Lilith's short tail just barely wrapped around them, resting on Elstraya’s lap.

  “Wow, you were so loud that they basically figured it out just by asking questions you didn't answer. Way to keep your secret Nephal.” Fate let out one more teasing laugh, Ayanna groaned and slumped back down on the couch, face down in the cushions.

  Lilith and Elstraya looked at one another then at the writhing, seemingly distressed, Ayanna.

  “Everything good over there?” Lilith asked, concern and curiosity thick in her voice.

  “Did Grim—” Elstraya's question was cut off, as Ayanna quickly sat up and glared at both her and Lilith.

  “Everything’s fine and I don't know any Grim.” Ayanna said quickly with a huff, though still blushing uncontrollably. She crossed her arms aggressively, pushing her bust up and pouting with an angry glare as she looked into the hearth.

  Elstraya gripped the tip of Lilith's tail making Lilith let out a sound that was a cross between a squeal and a soft moan.

  Ayanna quickly stood up, flapping her wings hard to get closer to the couple quickly, and pointing her finger at Lilith.

  “Ha! You made a funny noise! Let's talk about that!” Ayanna shouted, making Elstraya laugh hard.

  Lilith's red skin tinted more red around her cheeks as she looked down and to the side, a bashful smile on her lips, as Ayanna put her balled fists on her hips.

  “I really don't know what's going on, but whatever it is you're definitely going to have to explain. But later. We kind of have some bad news.” Elstraya said through joyful tears of laughter.

  Ayanna's blush receded as she thought about what the bad news could be, and Lilith's expression took on more of a serious tone as she looked back up at Ayanna.

  “You're going to want to sit for this, Ay.” Lilith said in a solemn tone.

  Ayanna blinked a few times, unsuccessfully trying to clear her mind, but sitting back on the couch nonetheless.

  “Mother?” Ayanna asked after a few minutes of silence.

  “Yea, she's upping her force in the worst way.” Lilith said, almost too soft to hear as her eyes glazed with tears.

  “She's going to do everything she can to get a hold of your heart. Even if that means killing everyone in Salem Kingdom.” Elstraya said, calm and calculated.

  Ayanna's eyes widened in shock and horror, as she thought about what this would mean for the country she barely knew but still loved.

  “Why would she go that far?” Ayanna asked, an angry and rage-filled look in her vibrant pink eyes.

  “Because reviving a Devil King requires an immense amount of essence… and countless souls. Especially when it comes to Aranthu.” Elstraya said, her voice wavering slightly.

  “DO NOT LET SYREN BRING MY HUSBAND BACK!” Fate shouted in Ayanna's mind. Ayanna had never felt Fate's rage before, but now it felt like a maelstrom of epic proportions ready to lash out and destroy everything in the vicinity.

  Ayanna staggered, grabbing her head as if she’d just been stuck hard on her temples. Her own rage, helping her recover.

  “Your husband?! The one that destroyed your village… Was Devil King Aranthu?! The most ruthless Devil King in Alina's history?! That Aranthu?!” Ayanna stood, shouting, using her own emotions to push aside Fate's.

  Lilith tapped the curve of Elstraya's bottom, signaling for her to get up.

  As Lilith stood her face contorted into a seething anger that Galerian, her Infernal Core infused claymore-broadsword, reacted to. The Infernal Core glowed a bright lava red-orange as Lilith stepped forward, her hand on the hilt.

  “Aranthu is who's husband?! I'll kill her too!” Lilith’s breath came out as a thin red fog as she spit her venomous words.

  “Oh yea?” Ayanna flared her wings out, matching Lilith's rage with her own. Her pink eyes glowing in rhythm with the pulsating of the gold tips of her grey feathers, “Try me, Bitch!”

  Ayanna extended her left hand, palm facing Lilith. As she closed her hand, Galerian began to rattle in Lilith's hand, its Infernal Core going grey and cold as Lilith's Aura visibly began to flow across the room and into Ayanna.

  Elstraya couldn't believe her eyes.

  Even Lilith's skin begins to grey as Ayanna continues pulling out her Aura. Lilith's rage filled expression turned to a sleepy, exhausted look in a matter of seconds.

  Her hand fell from Galerian's hilt.

  Her pride kept her standing on weak legs.

  Snap!

  A blue flame burst forth from Elstraya's palm, revealing Veystracis as it faded. Quickly the pages autonomously turned until it opened to an image of an ancient Shadow Wraith cloaked in dark armor, the name Thuurak above the image.

  Elstraya's eyes, even her sclera, went darker than pitch black, spider webbing black cracks leading from the corners of her eyes and down her cheeks as she went to her wife.

  The Shadow Wraith appeared directly in front of Ayanna, its raven colored glowing blade at her throat.

  Lilith's Aura was no longer being pulled, as the Shadow Wraith had pressed its chest plate against her balled fist.

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  “Both of you calm down, or I'll have Thuurak beat the shit out of you both!” Elstraya's voice was deep, sounding like an ancient evil had taken over her vocal chords.

  Lilith was out of breath, leaning on her enraged wife, as her skin slowly returned to its light red hue.

  “T-tell… her to… calm down… first!” Lilith tried to retain her rage, but even that was too much for her current level of physical and magical exhaustion.

  “I'm not afraid of your Shadow Wraith, El, but if Lilith threatens to kill Feytryn and I again, I won't hesitate to defend myself.” Ayanna's eyes focused on the empty hood of the creature with its blade to her throat. She had seen Thuurak before, but this was the first time he was summoned against her. She slowly dropped her fist, the Shadow Wraith's ebony and black glass armor had been cold enough against her fist for her fingers to go numb from the cold.

  “I don't give a shit if you're scared or not! Just keep your hands off her Aura and Essence!” Elstraya said, her voice still deep and dark.

  “Then tighten your leash on your wife!” Ayanna snapped, brushing Thuurak’s blade away with her left wing before turning around and sitting back down on the makeshift couch. Her arms crossed and an agitated look on her face, her tail thrashing at the floor as she stared into the hearth.

  “You shouldn't fight against your sister, Nephal. She's just afraid, you all should be afraid.” Fate's voice was laced with an apologetic tone.

  Ayanna did not respond, but a feeling of remorse began to softly drape her heart, as she looked over at Elstraya and Lilith.

  “Wh-when… did… she get… so… powerful?” Lilith asked between panted breaths as she slowly slid to the floor. Elstraya tried to take Galerian off of Lilith's back, yet as soon as she grabbed the hilt, the sword began to burn her hand. Despite being an undead Lich, Elstraya could feel the pain of the burn, and decided to let go.

  A long while of silence took hold of the cottage, Elstraya tending to Lilith, and Ayanna watching from the couch. There wasn't much damage done to Lilith's essence, but enough for it to take Elstraya a few hours to repair it.

  Ayanna's anger had long since settled, and she felt bad for hurting her sister, but she knew that Lilith was too prideful to accept any sort of apology, or offer one.

  Elstraya shifted, turning to face Ayanna. Her eyes and voice were back to normal, her lips curled in a soft smile.

  “Would you mind lighting the hearth?” Elstraya spoke softly, as Lilith shivered behind her.

  Ayanna summoned a small ball of fire at the tip of her index finger and tossed it into the hearth. The hearth exploded with heat, then began crackling as the wood began to burn.

  Lilith stood up, taking Galerian off her back, and setting it against the wall before sitting next to Ayanna.

  Ayanna's eyes followed Lilith, not in anger but in shock. Not that she had spent very much time with her sister, but she had never seen her look so… so… embarrassed?

  “Listen, Ay, I'm… sorry. I should've let you explain, or at least let you process the information and emotions before snapping like that. I promise I don't want to hurt you or anything inside you. I'm just… scared. I finally have a chance to get to know you and have a little bit of a real family, and of course our idiot mother wants to tear that away. And worse, I know I'm not strong enough to protect you or anyone from Aranthu.” Lilith pulled Ayanna into a hug as she spoke, her voice wavering as her eyes filled with tears she refused to shed.

  Ayanna embraced her muscly manly sister.

  “That’s fine, but could you not be so girly, it's a little weird.” Ayanna said, her tears rolling freely down her cheeks, “I'm sorry I attacked you. With Feytryn screaming not to let mother resurrect her husband, and you threatening to kill her, I just snapped.”

  Lilith pulled away from the embrace with a soft laugh, brushing tears from Ayanna's cheek.

  “No, Ay, don't apologize. I thought you were still that weak, ignorant little girl, but I see now that in a short time you've become a strong and powerful woman. I should've been able to see it, but I guess my pride got in the way.” Lilith said, flashing a soft smile at Ayanna, “I know better than most, just how connected emotions and magic are, but I honestly thought it would take you years to come to terms with it.”

  “If you two are done being sisterly, we still have a lot to discuss, and I'm pretty sure your wolf is watching.” Elstraya pointed at the door to the cottage and a few moments later Grim walked in.

  Ayanna pushed away from Lilith, her eyes wide and a bright blush igniting across her neck, face, and ears.

  “Wh-wh-what are you doing here?” Ayanna stammered quickly, standing up, and then sitting back down only to stand again. Her wings shuddered, and her tail swayed excitedly.

  Lilith and Elstraya both burst into laughter.

  “Fine.” Grim said gruffly, his tail betraying his excitement at seeing Ayanna flustered, yet he turned to exit the cottage.

  “No! Don't go!” Ayanna shouted, extending her left hand to him. Just as Grim sensed her raise her arm he sank into the shadows, ensuring she couldn't pull his aura from him and use it against him again.

  Lilith and Elstraya's laughing slowly came to an end, as they looked at Ayanna. She had a sad look on her face, as she clutched her chest.

  “So, took the wolf’s aura too, huh?” Lilith said, returning to the cushions on the floor with Elstraya, “That your new thing, leeching Aura and Essence?”

  “No, not particularly, it's just a versatile tactic, but one of many.” Ayanna spoke softly, her eyes filled with a deep sadness.

  Lilith and Elstraya looked at one another in confusion.

  “One of many?” Lilith said, her brow furrowed in confusion, as she looked at the distracted Ayanna.

  “I'm going to see your soul again.” Elstraya said, more curious than confused.

  “I wouldn't do that, it's out of control but that's how I like it. It could lash out at you, even if you are just looking.” Ayanna spoke softly, as she sat back down, looking over at the two women, “Do you think he hates me now? I don't think I could handle it if he did.”

  “Seriously, Ay? Mother's trying to revive the world's most despicable Devil King to capture and kill you, and you're worried about whether or not your boyfriend likes you anymore?” Lilith said, her tone and expression going to exasperation.

  “Well, don't you ever worry that—” Ayanna stopped, her eyes wide and her face blushing fiercely, “BOYFRIEND?!”

  Lilith and Elstraya burst into laughter.

  “You really think so? I mean, I don't know what I would do if he were interested in me like that, but he's always brooding and refuses to kiss me. Then again he did show me h—NOTHING SHUT UP!” Ayanna spoke quickly, almost too fast for Lilith and Elstraya to understand, which just made them laugh harder.

  Ayanna was too busy lost in her thoughts to sense anything or realize that the two women had abruptly stopped laughing. Something fluffy draped over her right shoulder, making her let out a sound that was a cross between a squeal and a soft moan. She quickly stood up and turned around, a wide fanged smile on her face as she looked up at his face.

  “I didn't show you anything, you stole my pants!” Grim grumbled, his tail returning to wagging excitedly. Lilith and Elstraya laughed even harder.

  “Stop, please. I can't take it anymore!” Lilith said between laughing hard, and holding her ribs.

  Grim and Ayanna looked over at the laughing women, then at each other, and slowly they joined in the laughter.

  “Wow, I didn't realize he could laugh like that. It makes him seem a lot softer when he smiles like that.” Ayanna thought, looking up at him as she laughed.

  After a few minutes the laughter died down and everyone recovered their breath. Grim sat on the floor, close to the hearth. Ayanna silently begged for him to get closer.

  “Well, since the gang's all here, let's finally get down to business.” Lilith said, pulling Elstraya closer to her, “Syren wants to revive Aranthu as a Titan, which would increase his power exponentially.”

  Grim’s face turned to a seething rage as his sapphire blue eyes changed to a deep scarlet red.

  “Aranthu? Why? Trying to find someone that might be able to kill me?” Grim asked, his voice more of a growl as his fur bristled.

  “Y-yea, she has everyone convinced that you've taken her against her will. Plus, she needs Aranthu's knowledge on Soul Magic.” Elstraya spoke with a faltering confidence.

  “How long until I need to kill Aranthu again?” Grim let out, almost snarling.

  “Again?” Ayanna asked, just as Fate whispered the same question through Ayanna’s mind.

  “What? Nevermind, just keep talking Lich.” Grim said, crossing his arms and focusing on the fire in the hearth.

  “My name is Elstraya, dog!” Elstraya snapped, rolling her eyes, “Anyway, Syren’s plan is to have Aranthu capture you and bring you back to the Obsidian Spire, and instead of just using your heart, she wants Aranthu to help her bind your entire soul with hers. It would give her access to all your Nephalem traits as well as the plethora of magic you possess. Currently, she's still looking for his body, but once she has his corpse it will take her the better part of a year to resurrect him as a Titan.” Elstraya looked over at Ayanna, and smiled, “In the meantime, you should hone your skills and visit Azielle. We can help you get past the borders, as an envoy of Salem Kingdom. There you can visit the Celestial Observatory and learn everything you can about Nephalem and ways to prevent Syren from taking anything from you.” Elstraya explained.

  “Or she could just join one of the adventurers guilds in Blaire City. It would give her access to every country except Oberon, and she could visit Rosell, Azielle, and Alluraine, to learn everything she possibly can about anything she may need. And there's always The Pit” Grim said, matter-of-factly.

  “She's being hunted, why would she register at a guild? Have you been a recluse for so long that you've forgotten that her Essence Signature would be recorded?” Elstraya snapped back.

  “Except one of us could go with her and she could pull our essence, combine it with hers and then register. It would be a completely different signature, and she could use a fake name.” Grim glared at Elstraya.

  Elstraya didn't have an argument, it was a sound plan, yet she glared back at Grim.

  “It would make it easier to get information on—” Ayanna was abruptly interrupted as the entire cottage shook from a massive explosion outside.

  Lilith quickly snatched Galerian.

  Elstraya stood and summoned Veystracis to her hand.

  Grim growled deep, his claws fully extended and digging into the floor as he was on all fours.

  Ayanna quickly stood up, the gold tips of her feathers glowing rhythmically.

  “I can't smell anything other than the forest!” Grim let out.

  “I don't sense anything either.” Ayanna said, as Lilith slowly approached the door.

  Just as Lilith went to grab the handle of the door, it exploded into splinters, and there stood an Incubus wearing obsidian and gold armor, the insignia of Salem Kingdom adorned the chest plate.

  “Ah, so the Queen was right.” The Incubus spoke in a soft silken voice as he pulled a scroll from his satchel. He unfurled it with a sinister smile, “By the Queen's orders, Master Court Mage Elstraya Grimoore, Guardian Lilith Grimoore, The Nephalem Ayanna Grimoore, and The Beast God Grim Kelevra are under arrest. I am to take you all, alive, but I am hoping you resist.”

  — The Curator’s Note —

  family reunions.

  you feel the shift when Lilith saw her?

  Next chapter sharpens its claws. Try not to bleed on the threshold.