The dinner table, although long and extravagant as one might expect from a mansion, hosted very few bodies. Aside from Tucker, Mary, and me, there was only Ms. Cecilia who often reinforced the notion of eating as a family. Mr. Reginald, who simply enjoyed the company. I, like always, sat between Mary and Tucker while Mr. Reginald and Ms. Cecilia sat a chair apart.

The maids had already set up the tables with silverware, plates, and bowls for each of us by the time I got here, which was at 8 o' clock on the dot. Thankfully, Ms. Cecilia didn't seem to mind, which alleviated most of my guilt.

Conversations were already present by the time I sat down. Tucker was bugging Mary about the details of how she defeated the possessed which she seemed reluctant to answer while Mr. Reginald and Ms. Cecilia were arranging their next sparring match. It was right as I got comfortable that all conversation was broken by the head chef, who with the other chefs were carrying our entrée's in silver platters.

"It would seem it is time for the main course!" a hearty voice boomed.

It was Mr. Broussard, the head chef. He was a muscular man with short blonde hair and a scar under his right eye. I never really talked to him much but I always admired his passion for cooking.

"Yo Paul, what you got cookin' for us tonight?" Tucker asked as the chefs were setting down the platters in the center of the table.

Ms. Cecilia glared at Tucker. "Just how impolite could you be?"

"Now, now, Cecilia, calm down. I admire his eagerness. It is a meal prepared by my chefs after all!" Mr. Broussard smirked and puffed out his chest.

Ms.Cecilia sighed. "Always the egotistical one, aren't you?"

Mr. Broussard laughed. "Well, what else am I supposed to be with you and Reginald walking around all calm like? Someone in this house needs to be the one to fire things up and Tucker's too young to take that mantle."

"Just you wait old man. Your spot will be gone by the time you blink."

"Harharhar. I like your vigor Tucker. I'll be waiting!"

"Well that's enough chatter. I've kept you kiddos waiting long enough." Mr. Broussard and the other four chefs lifted the silver cover to unveil a large duck. "Voilà, Honey glazed roasted duck with a sprinkle of saffron and a tinge of fennel pollen."

Everyone clapped.

"It looks magnificent," Mr. Reginald said.

"Spectacular as always," Ms. Cecilia agreed.

"Thank you, thank you. And the lil' kiddos?"

"It'll be gone in seconds," Tucker noted, whose mouth was already watering.

"It looks good," Mary answered in a deadpan tone.

"It's ok." I said.

A wave of disappointment washed away Mr. Broussard's joyous smirk, leaving behind a confused expression.

"Okay? Where's the excitement Arthur? The feeling."

Here he goes again, I thought.

He put his beefy arm around my shoulders and pointed at the wall with his hand as if there was something magical only he could see.

"I want to hear the emotion in you. "It looks amazing. Absolutely outstanding. Or on the other end of the spectrum, it looks terrible. I'd never consume such filth. But such a wishy-washy response like "ok" won't do."

"I'm a chef," he announced. "I live to create smiles with food! To do that I need the opinions of you and everyone here to point out my flaws. Only then can I grow as a cook. Do you see Arthur?"

I laughed nervously. "Yeah I understand," I said.

"Do you? Good, then maybe I can have your real opinion of the food sitting before you."

"I think it looks good." I said blandly.

He eyed me suspiciously. "Is that what you really think?"

"Yes."

His face showed that he wasn't totally convinced but was unable to press the subject with Ms. Cecilia glaring at him.

He took his arm off my shoulders and stood tall, letting his white apron once again be at the mercy of gravity.

"I think that's quite enough, don't you suppose?" Ms. Cecilia asked, quite annoyed.

Mr. Broussard, clearly not wanting to deal with the wrath of Ms. Cecilia, backed up a little.

"W-well, I can agree you should eat while the food is still hot."

"Enjoy." With that he and the other chefs bowed before walking out.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Well that's a relief. I was hoping he wouldn't press the subject. I guess I should be happy Ms. Cecilia is so intimidating.

"Sigh. He's such a headache to deal with."

"Agreed," Mary said.

Tucker shrugged. "It's whatevs. We should just do as he said and eat before it gets cold."

"That would be best," Mr. Reginald said.

I clapped my hands together, closed my eyes, and began to pray. "Oh twin goddesses, Archía and Telàis, bless the food I'm about to eat and give me good fortune in the days to come. Amen."

When I opened my eyes, I was startled to find everyone at the table staring at me. Well except for Mary, who seemed too focused on cutting herself a slice of meat to care. I'm confused, did I do something wrong?

"Uhh, did I do something weird?"

"Well," Tucker started, "It's just that you don't really uh...you kinda stopped uh—

"You haven't prayed since you were little," Mary said, without ever looking in my direction.

I had to think about it. When was the last time I prayed to the goddesses and why am I praying now? Didn't I think they were just fictional book characters in stories?

"Are you sure you've rested enough, Sir Arthur?" Mr. Reginald asked with a worrying glance.

"Yes, perhaps you should get some more sleep," Ms. Cecilia asked.

"I'm fine," I reassured them. "I probably just need to eat something."

"Yeah! Lay off my brother!" Tucker boasted.

"You say that, but you were staring at him the same as they were," Mary shot at him.

I expected Tucker to start bickering with her, but to my surprise he just put his head down and stayed quiet.

"Apologies. That was rude of me."

"I think everybody is slightly out of it and just needs to eat some food," I proposed.

"It is as you say Arthur."

"Let's dig in!" Tucker said, returning to his chipper demeanor.

Aside from the honey glazed duck, the chefs also prepared a large bowl of lemon quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes with walnut parsley and garlic, and parmesan rolls. I quickly grabbed a medium sized helping of everything, except for the rolls, which I grabbed three of to no one's surprise. I've always really liked bread.

I looked around the table. Ms. Cecilia and Mary both had equal portions of everything while Mr. Reginald had very small portions of everything aside from the duck, of which he had more slices than I could count at the time. Clearly his priorities were in order, I thought. Tucker grabbed plenty of slices of ham and potatoes and several rolls but didn't touch the quinoa.

I ate the quinoa first, then the potatoes, followed by duck, and lastly the rolls. I had a weird habit of eating my food starting from what I liked least to my favorite. While Tucker, Mary, and I all seemed to be entranced in our food, Mr. Reginald and Ms. Cecilia were talking about business over the course of the next few days.

"Ah, that reminds me," Ms. Cecilia shouted, alerting us.

Tucker raised his hands and acted paranoid. "What is it, another zombie attack? Don't think I won't sick Mary on em!"

If only Tucker knew how lucky he was that I'm sitting between them.

"No Tucker, nothing that drastic. I just forgot to tell you three that because of recent events your studies and lessons for the next three days will be canceled. I was just going to advise you to enjoy your days off."

Tucker looked like he was about to jump out of his seat. Mary was her normal apathetic self but somehow even she looked a little happier than usual. Not that I blame them considering my last day off involved being stabbed and making a deal with a demon. It's kind of upsetting when I really think about it.

Tucker grabbed my hand and raised both of ours into the air. "Woo!"

"Calm yourself Tucker!" Ms. Cecilia snapped.

Mr. Reginald waved her away. "Now, now, let him enjoy himself."

Tucker turned to me. "We're going to town tomorrow!"

"To do what?" I asked.

"To go to a burger joint, hit an arcade, go skating, see a movie, whatever. We're going to live Arthur, that's what we're going to do. Live and not be bound by the oppression of the adults in this mansion!"

"You're still required to be home by dinner," Ms. Cecilia said in between breaks of sipping her wine.

"Tsk."

I couldn't help but laugh at Tucker's antics. Even Mr. Reginald was getting a good laugh out of it. I looked over to Mary, who was quietly enjoying her meal.

I wonder if she'd come with us. I don't really know anything about Mary but she's always seemed really interesting. Not to mention it would be the least we could do considering she saved us.

"Why don't you come with us Mary? It'll be fun."

She turned to me, her stoic face unchanged. "No, I have business to attend to tomorrow."

She turned back and continued eating.

That's a bummer. I would've really liked to hang out with Mary. I hope she just doesn't dislike us.

"Thank you though," she said in a quiet tone barely louder than a whisper. I looked around but it seemed like I was the only one who heard it.

Tucker pointed a finger at Mary. "You say that but I better not see you in town tomorrow. I'll make you drop everything you're doing and play air hockey with us."

But Mary didn't flinch.

I couldn't stop laughing. Mary and Tucker are just so fun to be around. I reached for my fork to eat the quinoa but before I had a chance to lift it off the table the laughing ceased and my body froze.

That's the wrong fork, the familiar voice said. It felt like a soft pair of hands were guiding me. They had me put down the dinner fork and then moved my hand onto the salad fork. When I snapped out my daze I was gripping the salad fork.

What's going on, I thought. Am I going insane?

I looked around to see if anyone noticed but everyone it looked like everyone was too engaged with what was on their plates to notice. Even Tucker was staring intently at his ham. It was the first time today the dining room was this quiet.

Maybe Ms. Cecilia and Mr. Reginald were right. I should probably go to sleep. I'm clearly out of it today.

I put my fork down, scooted my chair back, and stood up.

"Heading up already Sir Arthur?"

"Ahah, yeah, I'm feeling a bit tired."

"Don't forget I'm kidnapping you tomorrow," Tucker said.

"I won't, don't worry."

"Good night Arthur."

"Good night Ms. Cecilia."

"Good night Sir. Arthur."

"Good night Mr. Reginald."

Mary looked at me but didn't say anything which led to a rather awkward exchange of glances.

I flashed an innocent smile at her. "Good night Mary."

"Good night."

With that I walked out the room and began heading upstairs. Essentia, which was still stuck under my pajama pants, hadn't done anything abnormal at dinner. Maybe I was just imagining things earlier. I got to my room and walked through the door hole and plopped right on my bed, which I didn't think of until after how idiotic a decision it was with a knife stuck to my side.

I took the sheath and set it down on the nightstand. I unsheathed the blade and took a look at it once again. It really is a gorgeous blade, I thought. It's weird, I was never really into knives, but this one is so mesmerizing.

I looked at it for what seemed like hours, although it probably wasn't more than a few minutes. I felt my eyes getting heavier as the food started to kick in. I sat up and put the blade back in its sheath. I got up to turn off the light switch before shortly slipping under the covers.

I thought about the random voice that kept popping up in my head. I thought about the demon Myala and this blade I was given, and how she mentioned the goddesses I always believed were mere fairy tales were real. Each passing thought was replaced with a question and before long my head was swimming with questions. Luckily it didn't last long as my eyes declared time was up. One eye was already shut as I tried my hardest to stay awake but before long everything went dark.