Kannika sat at the small wooden table in the cozy kitchen, and before them lay a cake, a creation of Anaïs and Athéné, that beckoned with promises of sweetness and indulgence. As Kannika took a bite, the flavors exploded on her taste buds, a symphony of bitter chocolate and crisp apple slices enveloped in a blanket of decadent white chocolate.

"Mmm, so delicious," Kannika exclaimed, her words muffled by a mouthful of cake as she savored every bite.

Beside her, Castaña nodded in agreement, her eyes alight with delight. The girls washed down their treats with a sweet drink Marijke had brewed the night before. Though unaware of its ingredients, they drank it eagerly, the taste a delightful mystery on their tongues. Marijke had called it mead yet its sweetness masked any hint of alcohol, if any, allowing the girls to drink it like nectar. Marijke, however, had warned them that it wasn’t for children.

The cake proved irresistible, and before they knew it, the two friends had devoured more than they should, a tinge of regret creeping in as they realized they had consumed half of a cake meant for ten people. Kannika took charge of the dirty dishes, her small hands deftly scrubbing each piece clean, while Castaña tidied up the table and swept the floor with meticulous care.

Once the kitchen gleamed with tidiness, the girls decided to get to the rooftop

First, they opened the door near the kitchen window and discovered a spiral staircase that wound its way up a tiny tower. The heaviness of their bellies, combined with the liters of mead each had imbibed, left them feeling slightly lightheaded, a queasy sensation threatening to overpower them. Castaña, in particular, struggled, leaning on Kannika for support as they ascended.

On the rooftop of Habondia's castle, Naamaah sat in solitude, her slender form perched on the edge of the wall, her gaze lost in the expanse of the empty sky. Dressed in a flowing black dress with her hair cascading around her like a silken waterfall, she appeared ethereal against the backdrop of the setting sun.

As Castaña and Kannika approached Naamaah, treading softly to avoid disturbing her, they noticed the silent tears streaking down her cheeks. A sense of unease gripped them, hesitant to intrude on her grief. They exchanged a glance and silently agreed to give her space, turning to leave. However, Naamaah, attuned to their presence from the moment they arrived, called out to them, her voice soft yet tinged with sorrow.

"Please, come closer," Naamaah gestured.

Kannika's heart clenched at the sight of Naamaah's tears, her own eyes wide with concern as she spoke up, her voice soft and filled with empathy. "What's going on? Why are you crying?" she asked, her small hand reaching out tentatively towards Naamaah.

Naamaah, her features etched with sorrow, turned to face Kannika, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Today I celebrate a special day, but at the same time, a tragic one. Today is the birthday of my son, André," she whispered, the weight of her words heavy in the air.

"I did not know you were a mom. Why don't we celebrate with a party?" Kannika suggested, her voice tinged with hope. "There's still... cake," she added, a faint attempt at humor. Castaña gently nudged Kannika, a silent reminder to tread carefully.

However, Naamaah's facade crumbled, her tears flowing freely as she enveloped Castaña in a tight embrace, her sobs echoing in the stillness of the rooftop.

"I'm sorry, Castaña. I didn't mean to hurt or scare you that night when we fought the Dullahan. I just got a little out of control; I'm sorry," Naamaah choked out between sobs, her voice thick with emotion.

"It's okay, it was not a big deal," Castaña reassured her, her words a salve to Naamaah's wounded soul as she pressed a gentle kiss to Naamaah's forehead, a silent gesture of forgiveness and understanding.

Curiosity burning within her, Kannika pressed on, her gaze fixed on Naamaah. "Where is your son?" she inquired, her voice soft yet filled with genuine concern.

Naamaah's response was delayed, the weight of her grief holding her captive as tears continued to flow unchecked. After a few seconds, she composed herself, wiping away the evidence of her sorrow before meeting Kannika's gaze with a steely resolve.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

"He is dead. He died when he was only one year old," Naamaah spoke the words with a heavy heart, the pain of loss etched in every line of her face.

"I am very sorry, Miss Naamaah." Kannika offered her condolences.

Naamaah's laughter, tinged with bitterness, rang out through the quiet air, a stark contrast to the heaviness of the moment. "Naamaah? Damn that name!" she exclaimed, her voice laced with a mixture of sorrow and regret.

Confusion flickered in Kannika's eyes as she sought to understand. "What do you mean?" she asked, mirroring Castaña's own curiosity.

Naamaah prepared to unburden herself of a secret long kept hidden. "I will tell you a story that no one has ever heard before," she began, her voice steady despite the tumult of emotions raging within her. "I was an insolent adolescent when he was born, the product of a damn relationship. I hated everything related to him; I even wanted to end my life. In fact, I detested him with all my strength," she paused, her voice trembling with suppressed emotion. "But it was in that hatred and unbridled anger when I lost him. A vile creature named Naamaah kidnapped him; I looked for him for many days... Kannika, do you remember the friend I told you about in the library?"

Kannika's brow furrowed in concentration as she tried to recall the elusive name. "Yes, that Ceremonial Arlo? Mmm… Alexis? Aleis! Elias? Was it?"

"I met him when my son disappeared; he was also looking for Naamaah, a demon who ate children. At that time, Thaumaturgy was nothing more than fairy tales; he opened my eyes to the truth. We found that evil creature. However, my son had already died," Naamaah's voice wavered with sorrow, the memories of loss still fresh in her mind.

As Naamaah continued, Kannika could sense the conflicting emotions that warred within her mistress. "In the beginning, I felt happy, but at the same time, I felt that my world was falling apart. He was the only thing left in my world that I could call family; I began to love my son as much as I hated that demonic creature. My anger was greater than my fear or sadness, so I killed that monster with my own bare hands."

The gravity of Naamaah's confession weighed heavily on Kannika's heart. She couldn’t find words to comfort her mistress.

"That demon's last words were to curse me; she gave me her powers and made me her... she made me Naamaah," Naamaah's voice held a hint of resignation, the burden of her name a heavy weight upon her shoulders.

Unable to contain her emotions any longer, Kannika pulled Naamaah into a tight embrace, her arms wrapping around her mistress in a gesture of comfort and solace. "I must call myself like her. Otherwise, anyone who calls me by my real name will die. It has been an ordeal to have to call myself like my baby's killer. To cast the Thaumaturgy and the spells used by that demon, to have to feed me on children," Naamaah's words echoed with a sense of anguish and self-loathing.

Castaña, fear flickering in her eyes, took a step back from Naamaah, her gaze filled with uncertainty and dread. "Do you eat children too?"

Naamaah's response was swift, a mix of sadness and regret coloring her words. "I'm sorry, let me explain. I need to devour children in order to survive. I was going to die anyway, I did not want to sacrifice innocent lives so that I, a sacrilegious and stupid adolescent, could live. My new friend managed to find a way to feed on children without actually eating them. I had to live surrounded by little ones like you and feed myself on your love and affection," Naamaah's voice held a note of remorse, the weight of her past sins heavy upon her soul.

Tears welled up in both Kannika and Castaña's eyes, their hearts heavy with the weight of Naamaah's burden. Pressing their heads against Naamaah's chest, they sought relief in her presence.

"Come closer!" Naamaah's voice was filled with love and gratitude as she enveloped the two girls in her arms.

Bander, Sadhbh, Badru, and two more children hiding behind the door leading to the rooftop emerged and gathered around Naamaah, their presence a comforting reminder of the family they had become.

Bander, with his serious eyes, Sadhbh with her fiery spirit, Badru with his quiet strength, and the others stood united in this moment. Naamaah's embraced them all.

"I'm so sorry, I never wanted to hide anything from you." Naamaah's voice wavered with emotion.

Kannika spoke up through her tears, her voice soft yet filled with conviction. "If it were not for you, we would be dead; you rescued us from hunger, from the street, from the war."

Kannika felt a surge of admiration for Naamaah, a woman who had given them not just shelter and sustenance, but a sense of belonging and purpose.

"You gave us a home, education, and many things that if not for you, we would never have," a blond boy, spoke up, his voice filled with gratitude.

“Thanks, Diego.” Naamaah smiled.

"Sadhbh, Castaña, Badru, Bander, Kannika, Aanisa, and me." Diego listed off their names. "We owe you a lot. Not just the seven of us, all those children who, like us, have had a terrible time and you have come to help them. It is not bad that you receive something in return."

Naamaah's eyes shone with unshed tears as she took in the faces of the children she had come to love as her own. "Thanks!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with warmth and affection as she pressed a kiss to each of their foreheads. "I love you all!"