“There is no good and evil.”

- A memory of the Old Ones.

***Norway, Hammon Residence***

***Cecilia Hammon***

I enter Gavin's quarters like I did many times before. My body moves on autopilot to the large dining table. Gavin gets angry if I am not at the table when he enters the room. I don't want him to be angry. He is my husband and it is my duty to make him happy. I immediately feel better as soon as I am sitting. The compelling wish to do as I am told lessens in strength. Not touching the food, I just sit there, waiting.

As I rest, the strange fog around my mind slowly dissolves and I start feeling more like myself again. Relishing in the sensation, I close my eyes and try to remember my family.

My clan will surely come for me once they find out where I am. They must. It would be unacceptable to allow the abduction of one of their own. There must be some kind of retaliation. Otherwise they would look weak.

I rock back and forth as I wait for the inevitable, glad and desperate at the same time. I am glad because when I am in this room my thoughts feel clearer than ever. And I am desperate because everything else about my time with the Hammons is just a murky fog of memories. I can barely make any sense of it. There are people and disjointed conversations, but they have no meaning.

Even my instincts have been silent since Gavin took me.

A stash of papers draws my attention and I eye the corridor from which Gavin will be coming. I can take a peek and return to the seat once I hear the door. He would never know. I am on my feet and on his side of the table before I can rationalize my decision further. Probably I would just find a reason not to get up and investigate.

Sadly, the papers turn out to be useless. I don't know the language. Though there is something off about the document. It's the writing. The letters are drawn with fine perfection, each one identical. There are even detailed illustrations, though I don't understand why the creator of the script didn't use colours. I would expect to find something of such quality in a book, not on some sheets of paper which obviously have just some fleeting, informational purpose. My eyes stay glued to the paper. There is one tiny bit of information I can understand. The numbers. I always liked Arabic numbers better than the Roman ones.

I stand there, staring at the paper until I hear the door. Swaying, I stagger back to my seat. Then I focus on the wall, hoping that he will be done soon.

Gavin enters the room and smiles. He sits down at his side of the table and we eat in silence. When he is done, he walks around the table and I rise to get it over with. But he pushes me back into my seat and stands behind me, his hands on my shoulders. “This isn't one of those evenings, Cecilia. We'll use all our time to strengthen your bonds. After all we will go on a little trip.”

“A trip?” I echo like a broken record.

“Yes. You are a very valuable conquest, Cecilia. None of my other wives gave me two children in such a short time as you did. But your little rascals are rebellious ones. Totally unlike you. I am afraid that the rebelliousness comes from my side of the union. We have to go and get them back. For the sake of the clan. Otherwise we would look weak. And you will use your power as their mother to command them. It will make things much easier.” His dirty hands wander down to my collarbones and he starts massaging me.

“I have kids?” I croak, shaking. I have no children.

“Cecilia. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. There is no reason to get upset. I'll strengthen the spell on you and you will be totally happy again. The episodes in this room are just needed to give your mind a little time to relax. Otherwise you would break. You would be of no use to me as an apathetic doll.” He pulls me to my feet and I allow myself to be dragged towards the other door. The one through which I always have to leave the room.

My eyes wander back to the papers and the numbers which I recognized as a date. It's November 2024. It was 1789 when he took me.

“Shhshh... you are very upset today. No idea what got you so riled up, but we will fix that.”

***Carinthia***

***Magnus***

“What's the party about? Your police force seems to be very excited about it,” Sely asks as we guide Annia back to the mansion.

I shrug. “It's a human invention to tell the truth. The Krampus are just using it for their own convenience. There is a rite among the people in this region. It's similar to Halloween, but a little darker. The young men disguise themselves as Krampus while one plays Santa. Santa gives out treats to the good kids, while the Krampus punish the naughty ones with their sticks and gunnysacks. Some costumes look so realistic that it's no big deal for the real Krampus to join the fun.

“Nowadays they have cordoned off routes to follow. But that makes it all the more fun when some brave souls decide to test their luck by jumping over the barrier. It goes without question that the Krampus answer such an offence with their sticks and whips. The humans have fun partying in the meantime, judging the costumes.”

Sely shakes her head in disbelief. “It's a wonder that nobody discovered the truth. The supernatural communities would want to take revenge for revealing their existence.”

I laugh and take her hand to hook arms with her. The strange impulse to do so surprised me. But it feels good. “Everyone in the Alps is doing it. It's not like this valley is the only one which holds the event.”

We enter my apartment and go back to the mansion. I am still in my own, little world with Sely when someone gasps and Oilell appears with the familiar staccato of her feet on the ground. “You did it! Did you already reach second base? Can I arrange a ceremony? You have to tell me at least a week in advance, so that I can prepare.”

The brownie dashes to Annia who was following us in silence. “Did they tell you something? Please, I have to know!”

Annia shakes her head, judging us with an unbelieving expression. “They acted awfully close since they bailed me out of jail. I was too surprised to ask them anything.”

“Jail!?” Oilell calls out, touching Annia all over to check for injuries. Finally, the girl snaps and tries to slap the brownie. Of course Oilell avoids each strike with supernatural speed.

Sely bites down on her lip. “I am sorry, Annia. Your circumstances caused me to forget to inform you. Magnus and I have decided to try ourselves in a relationship. The physical attraction is undeniable and it's better to explore our compatibility than to keep our instincts in check.”

I smile and pull Sely closer. “I am not sure that I would be able to do that.”

Annia's expression is epic. It's like someone drew a light bulb above her head and switched it on. “You mean like back at the chapel-”

Sely growls. “Nobody will ever mention that particular event again. Understand?”

The little sister closes her mouth and nods vehemently. “My lips are sealed! Thanks, Sis!” She runs over and hugs Sely. “That means we can stay forever! Right? I'll never, ever forget your sacrifice!”

Sely pats Annia's head with a conflicted expression on her face. “Don't make it sound like I am doing it just to stay here.”

Suddenly Oilell joins what somehow turned into a group hug. “I knew that Master would convince you to stay.”

“Oilell! Too close.” I hiss and wave the brownie away. Then I reach for my cigarettes. Just because I'll have no other choice but to tolerate all of them doesn't mean that I am suddenly the hugging type.

Sely snatches the cigarettes from my hand. “I forgot to mention that our relationship includes a ban on smoking. The stuff stinks and so do you.”

I want to give her a witty retort when I feel something tugging on the Veil. It repeats in quick pulses of three. Someone is knocking on my door. “I am sorry, but someone is at the Veil. I've to go and investigate their intentions.” I free myself from them.

Sely is quick to follow me. “I'll join you.”

“I'll too!” Annia follows.

I turn around and answer in unison with Sely. “No!”

The teenager is taken aback, but Sely hugs her. “It's surely the Hammons. Please just stay here where it's safe. Don't leave the reality marble. Go to Fiacre's place.”

I grind my teeth at the mention of my aunt. Strangely enough the thought of her doesn't send me over the edge. Annia grudgingly consents while I am still marvelling about this new development. One month ago I would have run off, spewing curses and acid at everyone and everything.

Sely turns to face me. “Let's go.”

“I would rather have you stay here with Annia.” I announce my feelings on the matter. Sely is mine now. There is no way that I'll allow anything to harm her.

She shakes her head. “Don't be stupid. They are my people. I know them.”

I chew on my inner lip. “What if I just tell them that I killed the two of you and that they have to stay away from my territory?”

Sely snorts. “Really? Should we hide forever inside this reality marble? Will you imprison us? And besides, Annia already took several strolls through the town and ended up in jail. There is no way that none of the supernats noticed her heritage. Sooner or later mercs or headhunters or someone else will leak the information that we are well and alive. That they retreated for the moment doesn’t mean that they won’t come back. I am sure that they still have their spies in the area.”

Maybe it was a bad idea to allow Annia to go out. But she was so happy about meeting Eva's neophyte that it didn't even cross my mind to ground her. From what I understood she was locked up in the compound for her entire life. I should organize more protection for her nonetheless. It feels a little thin to have only one of the lazy guardian spirits trailing her. The spirits are powerful, but one alone could never hold off a determined attack. They are more like guard dogs than real bodyguards.

And today I talked with several supernaturals while Sely and I searched for Annia. I managed everything without a single leaf of weed. I ripped off no heads and gutted nobody. Okay, I broke a finger or two, but only because the attendant at the police station worked with the speed of a sloth.

All in all I kept calm and had my marbles together. Does Sely really have such a strong effect on me? If I had known that a single female can calm down most of my mental issues, I would’ve stolen one long ago. I furrow my eyebrows together and consider what would happen if the guys at the Veil are really Hammons and I end up slaughtering them. “Okay, but you have to equip yourself.”