PENELOPE KALLIS:

Fidgeting my fingers and looking at the ground, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect after the stunt I pulled as I stood in front of my mother. She wasn’t going to yell at me, of that I was certain; however, I had no idea what she’d say about the twins I’d brought home and the mysterious half-fae. My father ended up dumping the decision onto her if they could stay or not.

“So let me get this straight. . . Not only did you run away and do something dangerous, but you also returned with kids you want us to take in?” Isabella asked as our eyes met after I dared to look up. “Could you be any more reckless?”

“I’m. . . sorry,” I mumbled with an apologetic half-smile.

She walked up to me and pulled me in for a hug, whispering, “You kids will be the end of me. . .”

“I promise not to do it again,” I whispered back, wrapping my hands around her.

“I’ll hold you to that.” She chuckled, breaking the hug and taking a good look at the others. “Now, who do we have here, hmm?”

The twins Damon and Sheila shyly looked away, with Sheila hiding behind her brother; meanwhile, the half-fae kept smiling, hopeful that she could stay while glancing around the living room with gemlike round eyes.

Seeing as the twins were nervous, I took the chance to crouch in front of them and grab their hands.

“Want me to introduce you?” I whispered, treating them as I would Ellie. They looked at each other before Damon turned to me again and gave me an approving nod. “Okay then,” I said, standing back up. “Mom, these two are Damon and Sheila. They’re twins, and while a bit shy at first, they are tireless and adorable.”

“Hi, sweethearts,” Mom said, waving at them. “Did you have a comfortable ride here?”

Damon looked back at his sister, who kept squeezing his hand, then turned back to Mom.

“Yes,” he mumbled, giving her a timid nod.

Traveling with them for days gave us enough time to bond a bit, but it was still surprising seeing the difference in their attitude when they were just with me compared to when my parents were there, especially Father.

“Damon, I see you’re protective of your sister. You’re a fine young man,” she complimented him, leaning down to not look threatening. “You remind me of her brothers.”

“Alex and Eliot?” Damon spoke up, turning red in the cheeks.

“That’s right. I see Penelope already told you about them.”

“Yeah. . .” Damon smiled at me.

“And Sheila, I’m sure you love your brother dearly?” She asked, noticing she wasn’t willing to take a single step away from him. “Don’t worry. You’re safe here.”

Sheila nodded, hugging her brother.

“Sorry, she just needs more time,” Damon said with a childlike chuckle.

“Well, with a brother like you leading by example, I’m sure she’ll have an easy time feeling at ease,” she already figured him out, making him flustered.

His winsome laugh had my heart melting. To think he had such a sharp tongue back at the auction house.

“Mom, how old do you think they are?”

“Let’s see. . .” She hummed, pinching her chin. “You’re younger than Ellie, aren’t you? I’d say eight?”

“Actually, they’re eight– Wait. . . How did you know?”

I could’ve sworn her guess would’ve been the same as mine, and even father assumed they were at least twelve.

Back at the auction, I thought they were a few years older than Ellie based on how they spoke and the fact that they were slightly taller than her.

The twins exchanged an awed look.

“A mother’s secret,” she whispered, giving me a wink and turning to the half-fae. “And what about you?”

“My age?” the girl asked, pointing at herself.

“Well, I’d certainly like to know that too, but maybe I should learn your name first.”

“I. . . umm.” She awkwardly looked around, letting out a sigh. “I don’t have a name.”

“You don’t?”

“Well. . . I–”

Noticing that she struggled coming up with words, Mom walked up to her and gently reached for her hand, which the girl didn’t oppose.

“Sweetie, you don’t have to force yourself,” she reassured her. “I can only imagine what you had to go through to get here, so take your time.”

“Thank you.” The girl softly smiled, letting go of my mother’s hand. “But if there’s anything else you wish to ask, please do–”

Cutting the conversation short with her dramatic entrance, Ellie stormed the room and unhesitantly ran up to me for a leaping embrace.

“Where were you?” Ellie asked, sounding annoyed with me.

“I was just–” I wanted to make an excuse, but as I held her in my arms, I couldn’t help but exhale, whispering, “I was getting myself into trouble, but I’m home now. Sorry.”

“That’s okay,” Ellie said, wiggling her legs as she wanted to be put down.

After slowly leaning down and letting go, we exchanged a heartfelt smile as I put my hand on her head and messed with her hair. Her irresistible giggles made me want to squeeze her tightly and never let go.

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“And who are they?” Ellie asked, glancing at the three unfamiliar faces.

“These are my new friends,” I said, looking at Mom. “We’re looking to see if they can stay with us.”

“Woah. . .” Ellie kept staring at the half-fae’s small horns. “Are they real?”

“Ellie. . .” I sighed, hoping the girl wasn’t offended.

“It’s okay,” she giggled, leaning down. “They’re real.”

“Does it hurt when you touch them?” Ellie looked awed.

The half-fae threw a glance at my mother before gazing back at Ellie with a coy smirk.

“Want to touch them?”

“Can I really?” Ellie whispered as if she were allowed something forbidden.

“Only if you don’t tell anyone.” She winked, leaning in closer for Ellie to be able to touch the horns.

She gasped after reaching for the black curved horns along which she traced her finger.

Clearing my throat, I stole Ellie’s attention.

“I’m sure there are others who’d also like to meet you too.” I stepped to the side, revealing the twins to her.

Sheila looked over her brother’s shoulder with curiosity for the first time, probably finding it amusing that there was someone their age present.

“Ah! Right,” she said, rushing over to meet the twins. “Hi! My name is Elena Kallis, and you are?”

“D–Damon!” He yelled nervously, crossing his arms. “And this-s is my sister–”

“Sheila,” she finally spoke up. “My name is Sheila.”

Taking a step in front of her brother for a change, Sheila extended her hand, inviting a handshake. Of course, Ellie didn’t hesitate to accept as they both immediately clicked.

“Want to go play?” Ellie asked before glancing at Damon. “You can come too.”

“Of course I can! I’m her b–brother.” He lifted his chin, trying to act cool.

“Damon, don’t yell at her,” Sheila lowered her voice and took a step closer to Ellie, siding with her.

“I– I wasn’t yelling. . .” He mumbled, dropping his gaze.

“It’s okay,” Ellie said, grabbing Damon’s hand.

“H–hey! What do you think you’re doing?” He protested but didn’t pull his hand back.

“Don’t you want to play with us?” Ellie asked, looking confused.

“It’s not that I want to. It’s that I have to,” Damon tried justifying poorly.

“Aham. . .” Sheila stared at him.

It took me days to get Sheila comfortable saying more than two words, yet all it took Ellie was saying hi to get her to talk. Maybe it was the age difference. However, they gave me the perfect idea.

“Before you go playing with them, we should see if Mom wants to let them stay,” I told Ellie.

“They’re not staying?” Ellie quickly turned to Mother. “Mom? Please tell me they’re staying. I don’t mind sharing a room.”

“There are enough rooms,” Mother said, letting out a sigh and casting her gaze upon me.

“But I want them to stay in my room,” Ellie insisted.

“Sweetie. . .” Mother looked at all of us as everyone eagerly anticipated her answer. “Oh, alright. They can stay.”

“Yay!” Ellie yelled, grabbing the twins and dragging them away. “Come on. I want to show you around.”

“What about me?” The half-fae looked at Mother, worried the same might not apply to her.

“You don’t think I’d exclude you, do you?” she asked, giving her a wink.

“Thank you,” she bowed respectfully, throwing a glance at me. “I’ll make sure not to cause trouble.”

“Could you go with them and make sure they don’t cause trouble?” I asked, looking at Ellie, who stopped to hear what Mother had to say about the half-fae. “I’ll join you guys soon, and then we can have a tour of the house.”

“If that’s okay with them.” The girl looked at Ellie.

“Of course!” Ellie’s eyes flared with excitement. “Let’s go!”

The girl excused herself and went chasing after them.

“Thank you,” I said, looking at my mother.

“You better take good care of them,” she said, walking up to me again and placing her hand on my head, just like how I mess with Ellie. “Look at you all grown up.”

“Thanks,” I mumbled, feeling my cheeks warming up.

“You’re such a strong girl, Penelope. Much stronger than I was at your age, and unlike you, I’ve done so many rebellious things.” She pinched my cheek before grabbing my hand. Looking down, she whispered, “Maybe I wasn’t the one who gave birth to you, but I still see you as my precious daughter, and I never want to see you get hurt. Ever.”

“Mom. . .” I wanted to tear up, but I’ve cried so many times over the last few months that I managed to keep it in. Immediately I hugged her, left feeling guilty that I made her worry. “I’m sorry. . .”

“It’s okay,” she whispered, caressing my back before letting go of me.

“Are you truly okay with them staying?” I asked, worried that I might’ve guilted her into accepting.

“Little too late to think about that now, don’t you think?” She chuckled, crossing her arms and tucking her hands. “But I’m fine with it, and I know your father is as well. Otherwise, he wouldn’t’ve even brought them with you. Don’t worry. Your father already told me about her being half fae and half succubus.”

“And you’re not worried about that?” I raised an eyebrow.

“Are you trying to convince me not to let her stay?” She looked at me, confused.

“No, no. . . Just wanted to know the truth.”

“Well, I’d be lying if I told you that I was overjoyed, but. . . I can see it in her eyes. She’s not a bad person, and your father reassured me when he told me her powers were sealed away.”

“I wanted to ask him to maybe remove the seal,” I mumbled, thinking how horrible it must’ve felt being restrained like an animal.

“I guessed as much, but I don’t mind.”

“You don’t?” She surprised me.

“If he removes the seal, then that means he trusts her enough to do so, in which case I don’t mind.”

“I see. . .”

“You should probably go chase after them,” she said, kissing me on the temple. “I still have some talking to do with your father.”

“Right!” I took a deep breath before looking at Mom again. “I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetie.”

We parted ways, and I quickly joined the others.

Ellie guided them through the entire mansion, showing them every corner she could think of, which included telling them countless stories she hardly even remembered. Of course, that meant it was my job to fill in the blanks, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it. It also gave me a chance to get to know them better.

I was worried about Sheila for nothing, seeing as she had an easy time opening up to Ellie, and Damon was just as I expected, a stubborn kid that acted tough but was vulnerable to praise, almost like a puppy.

After Ellie realized she wasn’t the youngest, she quickly took charge of the twins and acted as their leader, filling their heads with all sorts of crazy ideas that would keep me up at night if they ever decided to do it. Considering Ellie hardly had anyone her age coming over to our house, I could only imagine how happy she was that they were staying with us. The only downside was that I was going to have to look out for them, but the half-fae who we are yet to give a name to said she’d help me.

With so many changes around the house, things were about to get wild.

Chapter End.

Thank you for reading.