The cellar door swung upward, with Mom somehow manipulating the door to be silent. A practiced grace lent her movements efficiency, and she seemed to float into the bedroom like a ghost. Liam had always known, but never really considered her physical prowess until that moment. Why was she so fluid, was Mom some kind of hidden master? A warrior who had been exiled to the Kheresh wastes? Taloc wouldn’t dump a soul from his world into any random body, just as he hadn’t conspired to place Liam within arm’s reach of Nyota. Mom, whomever she was, had a value so great that even Taloc recognized her and pulled her soul across the universe to…

To do what?

They were alone, based on their darker skin, Mom had most likely been disinherited, or otherwise exiled. Banishment would make sense, and was liable to be fatal for a pregnant woman, especially if she had disgraced her lord by carrying an unworthy bastard. Khereshetal was perfect for banishment, as they were currently the most isolated city on the continent. Though trade still found its way through them, as did adventurers seeking the fortunes of ancient cities, before the cataclysms.

Mom entered the room, stopping exactly where the serval had died. Steel whispered against leather, Mom crouched, turning to scan the room. A silver blade touched three drops of blood, and aimed at the window.

“That should be closed… Kid can’t reach windows…” Whispered Mom, her voice barely audible.

Tired as he was, Liam decided things could only go his way now and spoke.

“Uwaha” Said Liam, choking on half developed vocal chords, enhanced with magic or not, they lacked conditioning and were unreliable.

The silver blade aimed under the bed, pointed directly at Liam. Just as he crawled out of the shadows.

“Hmm, you’re alive.” Said Mom, looking down her nose at him.

Had she sounded… Disappointed?

Without greeting him further she stepped around him, delicately closing and latching the shutters, careful to avoid exposing herself to the morning light.

Until a splinter entered her index finger. Mom froze, not reacting to the pain as much as the surprise. Her finger traced across the serval’s clawmarks with her thumb and index. In a second Liam was in her arms, swaddled roughly in the good blanket.

“Where is it?” Hissed Mom.

“Itty!” Blathered Liam, trying to form words and mostly succeeding.

“Itty? Can’t you talk properly?” Chided Mom, “where is the monster? A cat wouldn’t leave gouges!”

No I can’t talk properly! It’s a miracle I can talk at all! Quit being a jerk Mom! Thought Liam.

“Eeeeehhh” Said Liam, running a thumb across his neck and somehow slapping both their chins.

Mom halted where she was, giving him a raised eyebrow. “You killed it?” She asked.

He bobbed his head once, and an unfamiliar look crossed Mom’s face. It reminded Liam of the last day of his first life, The day Sarah had handed him the acceptance letter to Johns Hopkins Medical School… after she ‘accidentally’ left the scholarship denial letter on the porch, where he would find it first… Did Sarah set that up deliberately? The denial letter tasted like her hand lotion when he ripped it open… Oh…

“Where’s the body?” Asked Mom, her eyes carrying that same cunning gleam that had once attracted William Wilson to Sarah.

But the gleam wasn’t a mark of intelligence, it was cunning savagery. Like a velociraptor staring you in the eyes while its siblings came from the sides and tore you apart. The same look that crossed Phaedra’s face before she shot her black fletched arrows into monstrous throats. It terrified Liam, and without thinking, he pointed at the bed, directly where Quetz was hiding.

Wait, there isn’t a body to find! Quetz ate it! And he like, forcefully shrunk it… If she looks in there she is going to find a white snakeball! Not a kitty!

“Go get it.” Whispered Mom, setting Liam onto the adobe floor.

‘Uh, Quetz, I know you wanted to sleep, but I'm kinda in a pickle…’ Began Liam, using their mental link to avoid Mom overhearing.

‘What’s a pickle?’ Asked Quetz.

‘It’s like you, but lumpier, and green, and salty, but you’re pretty salty too–’

Mom tapped her foot.

’Ahem– it’s not important right now,’ Thought Liam, wondering if snakes eat cucumbers and realizing he was scared of the answer if they did. ‘Mom is asking to see the cat’s body… and I pointed at you! And uhm… idk what she’ll do with a snake, she isn’t the kindest person out there…’

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

‘So? Kill the mortal. Problem solved.’ Said Quetz.

‘… Dumbass! What the hell is wrong with you! She’s my MOM! You can’t kill my mom! No matter how much of a bitch she is, she’s still my mom! Dude, cmon! Besides, I’m a toddler!’

‘And that matters… Why?’ Asked Quetz.

Liam tried not to facepalm. Partly because he might accidentally poke out his eye.

‘Why? Listen here, snake brain! I’m still half baked! Like an unhatched egg! I need nurturing and care! I need my Mom or I’ll die!’

‘Looks like you can rotate yourself just fine.’

If Liam had the coordination to slap the snake god, he would have. Then called it a practice run for Taloc. Since he lacked any measure of coordination, he settled for rolling Quetz out of the rag they called holey.

‘Look, I am requiring you to help me out. Do not harm my Mom, and do not piss her off!’ Ordered Liam.

‘Fine, I need some mana… I’m… totally unbaked as you would say.’ Said the lil snake.

Liam crawled out of the bed, rolling the basketball that was Quetz out with him. Though his lumpy nature took some doing to get rolling and many awkward pats and slaps occurred. Each with the aim of moving forward. Finally they sat in front of Mom, her gaze augmented by a single raised eyebrow.

“That is not a cat.” She whispered.

Ah! Why is everyone being difficult little assholes tonight! Thought Liam, flopping back onto his buttocks.

His hands rested on Quetz granting him a pathway to trickle lightning affinity into the serpent. Quetz’s tail sprouted out of the ball first, pointing at Liam’s chest, then his head appeared in Mom’s direction, only to unhinge it’s jaw and vomit the serval onto the ground in front of her.

Mom –understandably– took several steps backwards. Both eyebrows vanishing into her overgrown bangs.

“What the hell.” She murmured, looking from the white gardner snake her son was petting to the fanged monstrosity that may as well be a tiger. “How did that fit?” She muttered to no one in particular.

‘Alright Quetz, now is your chance to wow Mom, fly around my head and swallow the serval again.’

‘And you say I’m the difficult one! I’m a divine serpent! Not a circus monkey! Why couldn’t I keep my dinner!’ Grumbled Quetz.

Despite his surly attitude he performed as bidden. With his short length rising into the air, circling the room and returning to Liam’s side. Mom watched the undulations of the flying serpent with unblinking eyes, her pupils tightening as Quetz flew through the air, his scales luminescing with Liam’s electrical mana. Then landed beside the body and swallowed it once more. When he finished, Liam wrapped Quetz in the ratty blanket, and looked up at Mom, silently asking ‘can I keep him?’ and hoping she would have no objections. Instead he found her arms folded, jaw askance, and tongue pressed against her cheek.

“Ya know… If you weren’t glowing right now, I would cut off that snake’s head.” Asked Mom.

Liam nodded.

“Is it safe?” Asked Mom.

Liam nodded again. Yeah mom, a flying lightning-god-serpent is totally safe!

“Fine, but it doesn’t sleep in the bed, and I'm not feeding it. You’ll have to figure that out.” Said Mom.

Wow… That was stunningly easy? How in the world? I’m not gonna say you’re the best mom in the world, but at least you’re coming along. Thought Liam, noticing a new article of clothing that Mom had left on the bedside table. Embroidered with the Duke of Kheresh’s personal symbol. Or maybe the sigil belonged to Emir Efendi… No way to be sure, not without returning the pilfered goods or sobering up Baron Green’s old memories.

Stealing the Duke’s blankets to get me some diapers? Mom… You really don’t do anything halfway do you? It’s a capital offense or total neglect.

What made you this way? Marveled Liam, falling asleep next to his mom.