“As best as I can be, given everything. But I’m fine, I promise.” Allisae leads him into the kitchen. “You don’t have to treat this like we’re doing business, Mikhail. Take your time. If you need something, I’ll try and see what I can do.”
She opens the fridge. “Have you eaten?”
“Sorry. Force of habit I guess.Though I really can’t stay. I have some other business to see to.”
As he’s lead to the kitchen, he stopped just shy of the door. “Ah, there’s no need,” he said, holding his hand up. “I just . . .”
“Things have become more dangerous around the manor. What with the Rendering attacks and, uh, what I did to the Grigori . . .”
“Point is it’s no longer safe for Noah with my family. So, I was wondering . . . if you’d be willing to take him in. Temporarily. Until I can get a better hold on everything.”
Noah toddled over to his sister, sitting in the grass. Tiny hands reaching for her.
“Noah! Look at you! You’re already so big~!”
“Wawa come home?”
He grabbed onto her skirt, pulling her towards a direction while pointing. Though as he noticed they weren’t moving, no matter how much he tugged, he looked back.
“Noah, I’m sorry. I-”
“Come home!”
He tugged harder. Frantically pointing in the direction of “home” though she still wasn’t moving.
“Hoooome!”
Lazuli scooped him up onto her lap. And maybe he noticed how the sleeve moved in the breeze, but almost immediately, the baby went to hug at her missing arm. Nuzzling his head against it.
“I don’t think you can heal tha-”
“Wawa come home . . .”
Lazuli swallowed. Her voice nearly breaking as she pulled him away from the arm.
“I’m sorry, little guy . . . But it looks like you need to protect the family for me, okay?”
Noah said nothing. Just fell forward to hug her. And she hugged him as well. His tiny shaking shoulders almost breaking her heart as she began to dissolve. Bits and pieces of her falling away in the wind.
She was okay with dying. She’d said her goodbyes. She was prepared for it. So exhausted with just everything these days. Tired of being weak. Of always screwing things up.
However, as she held her baby brother in her arms. She thought of everything she’d be missing. Of the faces and reactions of everyone in her parting words. And though she’d realized that she had basically already jumped . . .
“Calm and cold as always, aren’t you. Your daughter is dead. Aren’t you upset?”
“Of course I’m upset! My little girl is dead!”
Melua nearly slapped him. Knuckles turned white at her sides. Lips near trembling as she bit her tongue.
“But I can’t afford to be weak right now. I can’t break down or cry . . . I need to be strong. For Noah. He doesn’t need a mother who’s become a slave to her emotions . . . I don’t have the luxury to be upset . . . Just like how I have no right to be angry with you.”
“. . . ??”
“I stood by as everything was going on. Getting depressed over your father’s situation. I should’ve done something. So as far as I’m concerned, this is my fault as well. I wasn’t there for her. Didn’t protect her. But I can at least be there for Noah.”
“. . . We have to send Noah away.”
“What?”
“Not permanently . . . But I can’t imagine the Grigori will be happy with me burning their research facility down . . . We can’t ignore the chance of them coming here for revenge.”
“It’s not safe here for him.”
Melua followed his gaze to the window. Though rather than the sunset sky outside, she took note of their reflection in the glass.
“But it will be. I will make sure of it. I didn’t make it in time for Lazuli, but I will for Noah.” He looked back at her. “I have some people in mind who can take him in. And I trust them to protect him. You’re free to follow with him as well.”
“. . . But then who will protect you?”
“?!!”
“I may not have given birth to you, but you’re my son as well. I will not let you carry this burden alone.”
“Noah needs a mother.”
“He also needs a home to return to. One where he is safe. I’ve seen how your friends eye him. He will plenty of mothers. But this . . . this is something only I can do.”
“. . . Thank you.”
“It’s nothing. But I also do not intend on abandoning my baby. So wherever you wish to send him, make sure it’s somewhere I can visit easily.”
Mikhail saw it coming. There was a part of him that knew and understood that Souji wasn’t going to react well to Lazuli’s death. Even if it was a stranger, Souji would undoubtedly feel at least a bit bad at the loss of a life. And this was someone close to him.
This was expected.
However, Mikhail would’ve been lying if he said he didn’t at least hope that the other could’ve reacted differently. Told him that he still believed in him . . . But that was wishful thinking it seemed.
He turned away, heading for the bedroom to pack a bag.
“I don’t know,” he said. “It may take a while. There’s a lot to do . . . I’ll make sure to keep up with the house’s expenses. You and Rena won’t have to worry about that.”
Sherman was merciless. His lips and tongue all too enthusiastic and greedy. But as much as she didn’t wish to admit it . . . It felt good. So good. She found her hips moving on their own. Grinding against his face in movements that were slight but effective. Her fingers massaging his scalp as she fought the urge to grab onto his head harder.
“Sher-I-I-”
Her hands gave weak attempts to push him away. Her body tensed. Thighs closing in on him briefly as she climaxed before relaxing again. Her face burned as she looked down at Sherman, growing redder as her mind focused enough to realize what she’d done. Hands shot up to cover her face.
She hated it. How it was getting harder to control herself. Her breathing becoming louder and more ragged. Thighs twitching. Pressing against his hands.
Each painfully drawn out teasing of his tongue robbed her of the ability to form coherent words. Hushed nonsense peppered with soft moans the only thing escaping her throat. A sharp gasp as his tongue pressed up against her nub. A muffled whine as her hips bucked against his face. Her hands fell from her face, fingers weaving themselves into his hair.
"Okay. They’re done. It’s not perfect, though it should at least scramble most attempts to get into your mind. If not block entirely.”
“Thank you, Elias . . . I wouldn’t want anyone trying to use my mind against me. Especially now, with everything going on. And the other thing I asked you for?”
“It’ll only take a bit more. But are you sure about this? It’s a nice gesture and all, but it is going to be expensive.”
“Yeah . . . the least I can do is give them a nice dream.”
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