Rachel took a deep breath, closing her eyes for a moment as her fingers gripped the doorknob to exit the house. Part of the reason she hadn’t selected anything in her Feats was due to Nia’s evolving attributes and how they complimented her own with their entangled souls.
Her large ears were poised and listening. Currently, there was a lot going on, and she didn’t want to miss any of it.
Nia caught up with the triplets. Maria and Jeanne are finishing up their talk. Scarlet is with Elena and Felix, comforting Zoe. Alexa and Nam are packing while they’re talking…arguing. So, it’s fair to say they’re coming. Barbara is talking to the soldiers about Wolfgang, who went back to the helicopter. And Mom’s going to see Dad in the garage to drop the bomb she threw on me…
Focus. Now that I know everything is fine at home, I can test this…and if it works, it could change everything. There’s a lot to process, but I have to compartmentalize everything. One thing at a time, she self-prompted, opening her eyes and pressing the lever.
Before, only Nia’s Feats were the only thing that affected me, but with the latest increase from Elizabeth’s Legend Quest, can her Style Feats affect me, as well after Nia’s Syncro Advancement? Does [Solar Defense] act like it does for [Less is More]?
Walking out onto the front driveway, she stood in the open air of the deck, feeling the sun’s warmth on her skin. The ocean air was crisp, carrying a slight breeze that rustled her hair. The rays of the bright globe overhead were brighter than usual, sharper, as if daring her to test them—White Lunar Energy rapidly began to decrease. Yet, a smile twisted her lips.
[Solar Suppression: Activated]
[Lunar Abilities: Disabled]
[Nia Soul Sync - Solar Defense: Activated]
Rachel gauged the change from her previous loss in energy, obtaining a base understanding of the effects without entering her Soul Expanse. It seemed she was becoming more accustomed to internalizing the changes to her soul or it may have something to do with the increased knowledge she’d obtained allowing her to catch the nuances.
[Solar Drain: Lunar Pool #1 (White Energy; Unshielded) will fully deplete in 20 minutes and Lunar Pool #2 (Greater Harvest Moon; Shielded) will fully deplete in 4 hours and 35 minutes]
So, I lose roughly one percent every eleven and a half seconds on my active, unshielded pool, but just like Nia’s reserve pools, my reserve pool is partially shielded now. GHM is currently fifty-five percent after absorbing all of Coral’s energy throughout the week. Theoretically, it could continue to grow with our bond… Moongmor, you really did give me something brilliant with Nia.
A small smirk tugged further at her lips while recalling her last encounter with Eostre’s energizer bird-turned-bun and his elegant crush.
Maybe I should help the guy out with his lady problems. He’s got the talent but just needs to refine that filter in his brain to not creep Mei out. You’ll get there, bud, you just need to change your approach.
Rachel’s mind was a whirlwind of possibilities as the discovery opened up so many more options between Nia and her. The bun could focus more on defensive and utility Feats while centered on attack. Have I told you you’re amazing, Nia? she asked, striding down the driveway to the gate to meet up with Barbara on her way to her Living Denier.
Nia’s adult voice came into her mind as she activated her Feat, not knowing how to help the frightened three pups.
“Thanks, Major. I take it that the [Solar Shield] worked, judging by the sounds of your cheer. It’s nice to be appreciated, but what is spooking our three terrifying Hellhounds? They’re hiding under a car and won’t talk to me or Coral.”
Do what you can. I think it had something to do with Zoe… There was a lot that has changed, and did you hear what my mom said?
“…No. My younger-self was too focused on her soldiers. I’ll catch up on the details later, though. Don’t mind me. I’ll bring them over… It really isn’t like you three to be like this, though,” Nia muttered to the wolves currently bound to their soul. “I don’t even know if you can hear me past your chattering teeth.”
Rachel swapped her hand to grip her elbow, spotting Barbara by a military vehicle. Her ears twitched, picking up a conversation between Wolfgang and Sera in the distance, Green Berets escorting them. The four members of WHO, two of which were discussing something about a cat.
“I just find it curious how those fearsome devil hounds acted when spotting a Domestic Cat Beastkin,” Wolfgang said with a note of curiosity. “The fire reshaping her soul was interesting, I’ll admit, but she was a typical, ordinary feline.”
Sera chuckled, but there was an edge to it. “Let’s just say I’d rather not dig into that topic…and neither should you. Some things are better left unexamined, Director-General, and we should really be careful about what we discuss with prying ears and eyes flitting about. Hares tend to have snooping minds.”
Rachel’s left eye creased, intrigued but she decided to file it away for later as Wolfgang accepted the redirect. There was something very familiar about Sera’s cadence and the way she carried herself that tickled the back of her brain; there was just too much going on to put her full attention on, though.
Her focus returned to the surrounding area, taking note of a small piece of information Nam and Alexa discussed while arguing about what was safe or not.
So, the two girls I hear next door are new neighbors and not just house sitting…and one has spy abilities. The timing is too perfect. They’re definitely with someone, the question is who, and I’m swiftly running out of time. Peeping neighbors is not a good thing to have.
She could practically feel a pair of watchful eyes, yet she could say the same for Astra or any other number of potential spies, such as her own super-hearing. For one, all noise died around her parents when her mother entered the garage, tired as she was, and chimed her bell to have a private conversation.
Mom… What am I supposed to do with you and Dad with so many threats? No… Zoe might be the perfect secret bodyguard, she mused, considering the reactions of three Marchioness’ of Hell.
The thought was interrupted by a soft nudge from her intuition, the familiar pull of [Bringer of Misfortune]. She let out a soft sigh, acknowledging the shifting strings. It was a reminder that their lives were intricately woven with the threads of fate, each step carefully balanced on the precipice of chance that was combated by destiny, or so it seemed.
I need to make sure of a few things, but overall, Zoe is turning out to be more interesting than I thought…and misfortune is heavily pulling me in that direction… Don’t get on the bad side of the kitty.
The thought lingered as Barbara met her with a deep frown. “I can’t say I like those two bodyguards from the WHO… Something about them gives me the ick, I guess you could say.”
“I hear you,” Rachel sighed, noticing the Legend’s lax posture but razor sharp eyes, alert for danger. Rachel approached, her mind already racing ahead to the next conversation. There was much to discuss, and time was always in short supply. “I only have a second, but I’ve been meaning to ask about the Germans and the WHO Director-General. There’s a lot happening, and I need to understand where they stand on the US’ radar.”
Barbara nodded, glancing at some of the soldiers nearby that grimaced. “The Germans are cautious, understandably. It’s a touchy situation publicly. I haven’t been told anything privately but there has been a witch hunt of sorts happening in Germany, looking for any Legendkin there.”
The auburn-haired woman crossed her arms and breathed out a light sigh while looking down the street to where the large helicopter waited, a soldier informing the neighbors they’d be gone soon enough.
“Wolfgang’s involvement with the World Health Organization gives his party a layer of protection the typical German citizen wouldn’t have but also far more scrutiny. I’ve looked into things but everything seems legit. It also complicates matters as for the UN in general.
“As for the Director-General himself, from what I was told, he’s ambitious. He’s the leading expert on Seeds, which implies some kind of advanced knowledge, but he can leverage that to his advantage, further expanding his influence. The fact they’re here personally…”
Rachel frowned and nodded. “It implies they were here for multiple reasons. He hardly looked at Scarlet, but I guarantee he was scoping out all of us… Also, there’s something else.”
“Go on? I can’t give you any more time. You’ve got less than ten minutes. I could check the clock—”
Rachel shook her head. “No, I know it, which is why I need to get going. FYI, Nam’s curious about what a PMC does and will be joining us. As for Alexa and her change, she needs to gain levels. They’re going to be joining us, but I’m not sure how I feel about how active their roles will be. We’ll see. I’d like for her to do a few Quests with you or another recruit I pick up in Montana.”
“I can see that and see no problems so long as she isn’t involved in active combat with the Crystal; the slot amount is limited. Nam’s interest is understandable,” Barbara said, leaning back in her chair. “He seemed driven to help you as your big brother when we talked, always looking for ways to make a difference. As for Alexa, I’m a little shocked, but I can get the info from them.”
Rachel chuckled, waving her and the other soldiers off as Barbara moved to enter the house and get more information to not waste her time. “Thanks, and talk to you soon.”
As she broke away, she caught Maria and Jeanne ending their conversation on their way back to the house. Her sharp ears caught snippets of it on her way over.
Their voices were a mix of exhaustion and camaraderie, weaving through the quiet murmur of the neighborhood, kids and parents alike peeking out of their windows to see what chaos had engulfed their street.
It’ll be good to get Mom and Dad out of public areas for the general good in any case… I should be able to sell it to them.
Tone unusually subdued compared to her usual bravado, Maria spoke softly, a melancholy note to her cadence. “I know I shouldn’t feel bad or like I should have done more… I know it, but I still feel like I could have done more for Saint Catherine… She saved our lives.”
Jeanne nodded, her expression soft and understanding. “Saint Catherine was special to a lot of people…more important than I can express. But don’t carry the weight of it all alone, Maria. She wouldn’t have wanted that. She knew the risks and made her choice.”
Rachel lingered a moment longer, absorbing their words on her slow approach. The air was heavy with unspoken grief and the resolve to honor Catherine’s memory, and she could hear it in the way they moved. Still, there was a serenity around them, as if the golden-haired woman was walking beside the pair.
From her vantage point, Rachel watched Maria and Jeanne, sensing the undercurrent of emotion that bound them in shared loss. Maria’s steps seemed heavier than usual, her bravado replaced with a raw vulnerability. Rachel could picture the weight she carried—the guilt, the feeling that she should have done more.
“Dios te salve, María…” the unicorn murmured, her fingers brushing over the rosary beads in her pocket. Rachel knew that look, having seen it before when seeing Maria throughout the previous week in Elizabeth’s castle as she healed citizens and tried to keep herself busy. She feels like she should’ve been stronger, like she failed somehow. Fiona felt the same way.
Maria’s shoulders fell a bit, her voice somewhat distant, as if reliving that night. Jeanne moved in to hug her. Rachel could almost hear the internal struggle playing out within Maria—the conflict between her fierce sense of loyalty, honoring the woman’s convictions, and the guilt that gnawed at her.
Then again, unlike Rachel herself, Maria always feels like she needs to be the one to save everyone, to shoulder the burden alone so others don’t have to. It likely was attributed to how she grew up on the street and looked out for other kids on her block, such as Elena and Felix.
“It’s just… she saved us, you know? And I just ran away…let her sacrifice herself.” Maria’s voice cracked, despite her apparent best efforts to hold it together. “I should’ve done more so it didn’t turn out like that. Debí haber sido más fuerte.”
Jeanne’s tone was understanding, full of empathy without pity while hugging her tighter. “You were there when she needed you most. You delivered the things she gave her life to protect, and I know you don’t want to belittle her sacrifice… She was a true saint, in life and death. And think about this… You gave her hope that her sacrifice would not be in vain. You’re exactly who she needed.”
Rachel watched as Maria’s curled fists eased open and she returned the hug, despite the restlessness evident in her stance. Maria had too good of a heart for the persona she put out to the world. Inside, she was a cinnamon bun.
Every one of us Legends or Myths have something wrong with us, she pondered in silence, waiting for things to conclude as Nia finally got the trembling pups in her arms to stroke and sooth. We all have psychopathic tendencies, some more than others, but Maria gives us hope that maybe we aren’t all lost, huh?
Maria broke away, her tone firm and venom now entering her voice. “You need to be damn careful, Jeanne. Someone tried to steal her sword, shield, and earrings from me inside the Legend Quest. The bastards somehow slipped their hands right down my shirt and inside my soul to snatch them without me noticing a damn thing.”
Jeanne’s eyes widened before becoming slits “Reached right through your soul to snatch it? Thieves are everywhere, especially in times like these.”
“Yeah, no, that’s not the most important shit,” the unicorn growled. “Someone else stole it back and left them on my bed with a letter… Aurora, the damn succubus vampire herself that was basically tugging at Rachel’s ears the whole quest.”
“I see,” the blonde hummed, her focus darting to her. “During a vampire Legend Quest, and with everything else available to steal… No that was targeted. It may have been China’s final attempt. I’ll keep my guard up.”
Maria smirked, a flicker of her usual bravado returning as she made a cross symbol in front of her chest. “Good. I’ll keep you in my prayers. Can’t let my guard down, not with Rachel making a few deals with Hell a month. I swear, chica.”
Jeanne shook her head and shot her a dirty look from a distance. “I’ve heard there are positive forces at play behind the scenes supporting her but yes, Rachel really does like to play with fire… Maria?” the blonde whispered, showing a soft smile and summoning Catherine’s wheel-like shield in a flash of light.
“Hmm? What…are you doing?” Maria hesitated, glancing at the ground before meeting Jeanne’s gaze and the extended shield. “You can’t mean…”
“I can feel Saint Catherine near, and this is her will.”
Maria hesitated but reached out to take it. “You… Really?”
“She trusted you with something she wouldn’t have trusted nearly anyone else with, Maria. Whoever you choose to defend with it, she knows you’d do right by her.”
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Rachel felt a swell of unusual emotion at the unexpected gesture, which also bolstered their group dynamic. Maria held the large wheel, stained red by the blood of a martyr and sanctified through it.
“She wants me to have this?” Maria mumbled, but there was a newfound resolve in her words while sliding her hand over the wood. “I didn’t know her long, but she was… I truly believe she is what a saint should strive to be like…who I should strive to be like.”
Jeanne reached out, touching the edge of the shield reverently. “Like I said, Catherine believed in you, Maria. Carrying her shield is a testament to that faith. Let her seed of faith bud into who you truly wish to become.”
Rachel sensed the unspoken bond between them grow, a shared understanding of the sacrifices that had been made and the responsibility they both chose to carry, and it was a choice. It was a reminder that Catherine’s legacy lived on through them, in their actions and in their hearts.
“There’s still work to be done,” Jeanne said, her voice firm yet gentle. “My home is under attack by terrorists and raiders. The seas are becoming less safe, and with Saint Catherine’s sanctified blade… I will defend her. I will complete this mission without fail and take the Thorns of Christ to the Vatican, despite my differences with the organization.”
Maria nodded and broke away, her shield returning to her soul now that it had been transferred back. “I’ll keep you in my prayers.”
Jeanne smiled after her. “Of course. I’ll do the same for you.”
The unicorn broke away, offering a small, thankful smile in passing. “The hell’s up with Alexa…” She shook her head immediately after with a short laugh. “No, I’ll find out myself and not waste your time.”
With a final two fingered salute, Maria turned to go. Rachel could feel the shared sense of purpose that united the unicorn and saint as Jeanne approached her. The sea breeze rustled her blue dress and pulled her thick braided hair to the side.
“She’s carrying a lot on her shoulders,” Jeanne quietly commented, watching Maria’s retreating figure.
Rachel hummed and crossed her arms. “Life’s tough, so we need to be tougher.”
Jeanne gave her a half-smirk while stopping in front of her. “As hard as you try, Rachel, you try to take on everything so others don’t have to. Maybe you need to put more trust in others to not buckle under the weight of everything. Maybe then you wouldn’t have to make so many deals with Hell.”
Snorting at the light smack of a joke, Rachel shifted her hip to the side to return the stare. “Say whatever you want, Jeanne, but it’s not about chivalry but the results and delivery. I make Hell look appealing with how I deal with its lords, and I’ve got a growing fandom of Divine patrons coming along.”
“I’ve heard,” the blonde chimed. “I understand I don’t have much time left with you, and we can talk about a lot of other things on our ride to the airport. I just wanted to say a few things…”
Jeanne’s expression shifted slightly, a softness in her eyes as she regarded Rachel. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you, Rachel. Would you be interested in coming to France?”
Rachel’s ears perked up, curiosity and caution mixing into her face. “To France? What’s on your mind, Jeanne? I’m all for a friendly get together if I ever have the chance, but something tells me this isn’t totally you talking but Charlemagne.”
“Guilty.” Jeanne smiled, her demeanor calm yet purposeful. “There are a few people who would like to meet you, to understand the woman who’s been making waves across continents. We could make it a part of your visit to the Vatican since it’s close enough in the EU.”
Rachel chuckled, though her eyes remained sharp, assessing each twitch the Legend made; she did play on a good-guy side of things, but Charlemagne was a dubious figure at best. “I’ve been keeping busy, I guess you could say.”
Jeanne’s expression turned more serious. “You’ve accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. I know I’ve already thanked you for what you’ve done and inadvertently taught me, but I’ll say it again. You’ve brought hope to many people, despite your…Hellish disposition.”
Rachel shifted slightly, a small smile playing on her lips. “Hey, I thought we went over that already. It’s what I can do, though—stir things up. We’re all fighting our own battles, right?”
Jeanne nodded, her eyes meeting Rachel’s which few people managed to do for long, given her unique and unnerving irises. “That’s true. And speaking of battles, I was curious about your ability to handle daylight. I’ve heard things but is it really okay for you to be out like this… I’d hate for you to grow overconfident and be caught unaware.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow, the corners of her mouth twitching upward. “You know, coming from almost anyone else, I would have taken that as a threat. Thank you for the concern and trying to look out for my well being. We all have our secrets—powers evolve, adapt. I’m finding new ways to work with what I’ve got.”
Jeanne’s eyes sparkled with understanding as her face lit up. “I see. My worry is misplaced then. You’ve always been full of surprises and I admire your resilience. Despite your, ahem, chaotic nature, with everything you’ve gone through, you remain a pillar of growth and stability for many lives. I’ve heard it as the US government has lifted you up as a standard to quell people’s fears of you.”
Rachel shrugged, an enigmatic smile on her face. “I’ll take your word for it. I hear a bit here and there, but my mind is usually on bigger things. I’m not so noble as to think about the masses. I just like keeping things interesting.”
Jeanne paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful. “You don’t need to have the desire to do good to do good. It is an effect of your actions that speak to where you land on the helpful or destructive paths. I’d say…you’re solidly in the middle, tilting toward the positive side!”
“Haha!. Thanks, I guess.”
“There’s someone else I’d like you to meet when you’re in France,” she said, now slightly nervously as she played with her thick braid and looked away. “A girl who was Catherine’s student at the church we attended as children. She was close to Catherine and would like to know her final moments. Maria being there would mean a lot to her… We don’t really, umm, get along well, but she asked me to ask you, which is big for her.”
Rachel shrugged. “I’m not too invested in that stuff. If I’m there, I’m down, but otherwise I don’t go out of my way. I do find it interesting you knew Catherine when growing up. Catherine’s influence seems to have reached far and wide.”
Jeanne’s gaze was steady, a hint of something unspoken lingering. “To be honest, I think you’d get along better with Olga than Maria or I with her…personality type. Anyway, thank you for humoring me with your limited time. And it looks like we finished just in time… Nia really does glow up, doesn’t she,” the blonde chuckled as Big Nia came walking out from someone’s backyard with three pups held against her chest, looking reluctant.
Rachel waved Jeanne off as she went to speak with Barbara, who was receiving updates on what was happening in Montana. When she turned to meet Nia, she noticed the disguised Hellhounds still looked unusually spooked, their ears flat and tails tucked low.
Rachel’s brow furrowed as Coral zipped out to plop onto Rachel’s head, phasing between her ears and looking drained from being out in the sun. What’s up with you three?
Nia caught Rachel’s eye, there was concern in them that straightened her spine. “Rachel, we really need to investigate what’s happening to Zoe.”
Lips pulling in, Rachel picked up Thalia by the scruff of the neck and hoisted her out of Nia’s grip to look at the defiant, yet trembling blue-haired mutt. You three practically kill each other daily and a cat has you scampering for the hills?
“Shut-up!” Thalia snapped, a low growl in her throat that seemed hollow to her. “Whatever flame burns within that cat is something that can devour our very existence! Not go back to Hell—done, gone! It’s horrifying. That’s a tame word to use for what we’re feeling.”
Thinking back, she didn’t remember anyone else having this kind of reaction, and Moongmor knew full well about Zoe.
No, her split tail happened last night, and the green fire was new. Add onto the terror she caused to the assassins and the reaction Sera had to Zoe… Something definitely changed.
“It’s…beyond any power I’ve ever felt,”Aleka mumbled, “including Lord Hades, and there’s something…inside it. Someone. I don’t know, but they’re…they’re big… Beyond the word…and hungry.”
Rachel’s ears drifted to the side while glancing to her sisters, who seemed to be in agreement. Well, okay. You have me intrigued. Let’s go inside and see what’s going on because my sense of misfortune is starting to feel like there’s a tsunami hidden nearby, waiting to be discovered and directed. Let’s find out what it is!
Rachel waved Jeanne and Barbara off at the gate as they went to further interrogate Wolfgang after the pair came up with some questions they wanted answers to. It helped when they had someone from the UN top brass to answer their questions directly, and they were trapped in the helicopter, cornered.
Nia set the pups down, who uncharacteristically followed behind them, hiding as they went inside. Her draining energy ceased upon leaving the light, strength returning to her limbs while catching everyone’s attention in the front room.
Inside, the living room was bustling with activity. Rachel’s father sat on the couch, his face etched with concern as he glanced up at Rachel’s entrance. Her mother looked exhausted, leaning back in her chair as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders, sleeping. Alexa was pacing, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, while Nam stood by the window, staring at a tablet with notes he’d made.
Alexa stopped pacing and turned to face Rachel, her voice tinged with anxiety yet a firm decision to follow through with her dream to find purpose.
“My bags are packed. I just…oh, Big Nia. No, uh, I don’t know what to take that will fit me—I’m going to turn into a thirteen-year-old in less than like eight minutes”" she said, gesturing to the halo above her head. “Can I…really come?”
“Yes,” Rachel replied, her voice steady as she met Alexa’s star-like pupils, glistening with diamond-like tears. “There’s a lot at play, and we need to stay focused on what we can control. So…”
Nam glanced over, his brow furrowed while looking at their parents, no doubt deflecting from the frustration and understanding he felt toward his wife’s decision to semi-join Omen.
“What about these new neighbors? Are they…”
“Probably spies,” Rachel interjected, her tone thoughtful while looking that way. “Listening to everything we say as we speak. Or they might be something else entirely. But right now, they’re an irrelevant mystery, and I only have a minute or two left, so I’m going to need Scarlet to get everyone to the helicopter while I talk with Zoe. We can figure things out on the flight to Montana—it’s a long flight.”
Scarlet perked up, creating a blood portal and giving her a thumbs up, ready to be useful. “It’s a bit, eh, weird, I’ll admit, but it will get you to the helicopter immediately! Come on, Alexa, Nam—we gotta go. Maria?” she called out to the kitchen, where the unicorn was talking to Felix and Elena.
“I got it…shit,” the unicorn snarled, scratching her hair with agitation at the stubborn tone of her adopted brother and sister. She spoke in Spanish in a quick back and forth before sighing, hugging them, and entering the front room. “They want to stay with the cat. That cool, Rach?”
[Mental Acceleration] brought the world to a crawl as Rachel examined the girl, Maria and everyone waiting for her answer. Zoe sat quietly in the corner, examining her split tail for the past few minutes. She’d been preoccupied by something, as if searching through fog yet not knowing what she was trying to find.
Were those threads of misfortune there before? No…they weren’t. Weird. Rachel gulped, [Beastial Instinct] now activating for the first time on the cat the more she stared at her. The more I look, the higher her threat-level becomes… It’s as if misfortune is only now noticing her existence by me staring at her. What kind of power did she gain?
Rachel chuckled and shrugged her shoulders, further analyzing the strange vibe around the feline now that she was focused on her; it was was if ghostly threads of danger were now emerging out of the aether to jab her in the eye, elusive yet as if they’d always been there and she hadn’t noticed until she looked for it.
“So long as my parents and Zoe are fine with it,” she finally said, testing the threads—the reaction made her tail go totally stiff.
Zoe jumped as her name was brought up, ears rising. “Huh? Oh, yeah, Felix’s company will be nice and…I don’t know much about Elena, but I’m happy to have her around. Wait, I can stay?”
All eyes were on Rachel’s father as he looked at his wife, leaning against him, hands clasped. “I’m sure Molly would enjoy having some noisy teens to fuss over… She said she’d like for Zoe to remain with us. Actually, she had me book a flight to take Zoe to see her parents.”
“Really?” Zoe mumbled, tears forming in her eyes.
Mom’s not stupid. Air locked in her lungs, Rachel released it in a short stream, now seeing what her mother must have sensed. If anything, Mom knows more about all of this than any of us, but she’s keeping it close to her chest…
She glanced at the nervous, teary-eyed cat, having lost everything but now being welcomed to stay with another family to sort through her collapsing life.
Her father doubled down, and Rachel was sure about her mother knowing more than any of them at this point. “Molly wants to be here for you, Zoe… We’ll be fine, Sung.”
Rachel breathed a sigh at her real Korean name being used, which was something her parents usually did when calm rather than angry, but there was an unusual weight to his words. Something her mother told him in their private talk had affected him, and he wasn’t willing to talk about it.
“Ahem,” Felix began bringing everyone to the Mexican young man as he stood up. “Zoe, can we talk?”
“Oh, uh, sure?”
“Me, too!” Elena chimed in, looking surprisingly chipper compared to her typical tough-girl act Rachel had heard thus far.
The teenagers went to speak in the kitchen, leaving Nia, the triplets, and her parents staring at her. Rachel lingered at the doorway for a moment longer, watching as Scarlet sent Nam, Alexa, and Maria through the blood portal, their figures disappearing into the crimson void.
Zoe and Felix are staying behind, and I can’t leave without understanding what this subtle black hole of misfortune is hinting at, Rachel thought, turning her attention to the kitchen where Zoe was speaking with Felix and Elena.
“Give me a second, Scarlet,” she sighed, continuing after the three teens but she hardly made it into the kitchen when Zoe vomited out words, her eyes wide with anxiety while her tails flicked side to side.
“I’ve just been… I’m worried about being a burden,” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’m not sure what’s happening to me—my fingernails are becoming sharper, sometimes I can see this green aura around myself, and I hear this…I don’t know, a bell. It’s hard to explain. But I want to stay here, to be useful. You don’t need to join me.”
Felix gave her a reassuring smile, his voice soft yet firm as his Mexican accent showed through a tad. “You’re not a burden, Zoe. You’ve been through a lot—I get it. I don’t have any family either—neither does Elena, and you’re stronger than you think. You saw how those guys acted last night.”
Elena nodded with a playful nudge that sent Felix off-balance. “Lover boy’s right, you know. Besides, I’m sure Felix wouldn’t mind sticking around a bit longer either to investigate some hidden flames.”
A faint blush crept up Felix’s cheeks at the younger teen’s snickers, and he chuckled awkwardly. “Yeah, I mean… I want to make sure you’re okay too, Zoe.”
Rachel watched the exchange with a smirk at the teenage drama, but her mind was focused on what lay underneath it. Zoe’s transformation and the sense of misfortune tugging at her mind were pieces of a larger puzzle she needed to unravel and she didn’t have much longer to let them gabber and flirt. Her ears twitched, picking up snippets of their conversation as she approached.
“Hey, Zoe?”
Zoe’s tails went totally stiff, a flicker of uncertainty in her large feline eyes, and as she spoke to her, misfortune unraveled. “R-Rachel, hey! Uh. Yeah, I didn’t mean to spook your dogs. I think…I did? I just don't want to cause any trouble for anyone.”
“You won’t,” Rachel firmly responded, moving to stand within the circle and trying not to let her tail bristle at what she was sensing; if Zoe stayed with her parents, they’d be safe, and that was a guarantee. “I’ll ask point blank. What’s changed? I know about a green flame and something likely inside your Soul Expanse. So, what happened last night?”
Zoe hesitated, her fingers brushing the tips of her split tails as Elena and Felix listened closely; the red tips showed small sparks of emerald flames from time to time, and even as she watched, the girl’s eyes were occasionally filtering to speckled greenish-yellow—she was transforming, as if a second awakening from The Oscillation, only slower.
“It’s a bit weird, to be honest, but I think… I think I’m a ‘Stray of the Cat Mother’ now, whatever that means. It’s more like…a title, I think? But my actual race shows as ‘??????.’ So, that’s not scary or anything,” she hissed. “It’s strange, but I had a dream about this…cat girl, I think, who was called…something with an N. And now everything feels different.”
Rachel’s ears perked up at the talk about a dream, thinking back to the mists of what Cerridwen used and the Eldritch entities she’d allied with. “Did you see anything specific in the dream or remember anything else about this cat girl? Sometimes dreams can be…let’s say connected to something bigger.”
The cat hesitated, gulped, and gripped her elbow before looking up at her. “There’s a, uh, a timer, too. For me to evolve into it. I was in my inner world, looking for a way to get stronger, I asked for some Feats, and this cat girl just…answered my call, I guess. At least, that’s all I can puzzle out.”
Zoe’s brow furrowed, her gaze distant as she recalled the details. “It was like…I was in this vast place, and there was a voice—I think I saw you in a library of…blood? I don’t know.”
Rachel’s gut cramped at the information but she kept her posture lax and expression studious as the cat girl continued. “I couldn’t see who it was, but it felt familiar, like a patron deity or something, maybe. And then there was a sense of warmth, like being welcomed into a family.”
Rachel nodded, processing the information but one thing was for certain as the threads strung around Zoe in a way she’d never felt before—unkillable. Whatever was happening to the cat, there was some higher force than anything she’d experienced thus far, and that was saying a lot considering the entities she’d met.
A cat girl who’s name starts with an N… Odd.
Felix broke the thoughtful silence, his tone playful yet sincere. “Well, I think it’s cool. You get to be a unique cat race and have awesome powers—whatever they are. I’d like to help you learn how to use them.”
Elena piped up, her Honey Badger fur bristling with excitement. “I’m game! No one will let me fight back home… They say I’m too dangerous and they don’t want me to catch a case.”
Zoe strained a smile, her tension easing slightly. “Thanks, Felix. And let’s hope that isn’t my body! Hahaha-haaa. I just hope I can be as strong as everyone else.”
Rachel wasn’t smiling as the teens looked at her narrow-eyed stare, shying away a little before she grinned and turned to leave. “Zoe, so long as you stay with my family, then you won’t have to worry about anything. When I get back, I’ll offer you a position in Omen as my parents’ bodyguard. And don’t worry about getting stronger… You’re plenty strong enough.”
Turning, she left the girl in a daze while waving at her dad, pondering whatever bombshell her mother had dropped on him. “Tell Mom I love her. Love you, Dad.”
“Hmm. I love you too, Sung… Be safe.”
Scarlet was bouncing on her toes, bright-eyed and ready for their next adventure. The Cerberus Triplets darted into the portal the moment it was open, leaving Nia and Scarlet to follow her through to reach the helicopter, Coral still sleeping on her head.
“Always safe, yet always in danger. Misfortune calls me home,” she chimed. “See you soon.”