"Alright you two, time to brush."

After Alice and Maple spent some time talking excitedly about the former's new looks, Jason urged the two to get out of bed. Both children pouted, pretending to be lethargic until Jason picked each one up in his arms and swung them around, spinning in circles till all three got dizzy and fell back onto the bed.

"There, that got you two awake," Jason said with a grin as the two girls nodded and giggled. "Now to the washroom! Before the Hulk catches you! Argh! Hulk, hug!"

Alice and Maple squealed before darting off, Jason hot on their heels while roaring like a certain green superhero and pretending to catch them in his arms. Alina watched as all three left with a shake of her head, a wry smile on her face as she went back to her room to get dressed for school. Ten minutes later, all four, along with Ava, were in the kitchen, seated on the dining table, and ready for breakfast.

"Aaand for our three princesses . . ." Jason declared before pausing dramatically as he brought three plates to the table.

"Hey, I'm not - "

"What about me?"

Alina protested while Ava muttered under her breath but Jason ignored them and spoke loudly over their voices.

"Three of the world's finest Nutella'd ice cream waffle sundaes! Yeah, I know, it's a lame name. I'm working on it, ok? Now eat," Jason finished impatiently as he laid the plates down while everyone looked at him with raised eyebrows, an awkward look on their faces after hearing the name of his waffles.

Seeing the plates, both Alice and Maple gasped with wide eyes, joy on their faces while Alina swallowed her complaints along with her saliva. The plate had two large waffles each, stacked on each other while garnished with vanilla ice cream, drizzled with homemade Nutella, and garnished with a variety of berries. All three girls dug in with relish, barely savouring the sweet ice cream and tarty berry taste of the waffles as they swallowed quickly. Maple, in particular, took large ravenous mouthfuls as though the waffles would be taken away from her, pausing only to gulp some milkshake down when she began hiccuping.

"Oh wow! This is so cool!" Maple shouted as she reached the center of the two waffles. In the center was a hollow spot and within it was a chunk of Belgian chocolate that had melted into gooey goodness due to the heat of the freshly baked waffles.

"Damn," Alina muttered as she dipped her forkful of waffles into the chocolate fondue. She eyed Jason from the corner of her eyes as he watched them eat with pride, a smile on his face.

"What?" Jason asked when he caught Alina secretly peering at him.

"You put a lot of effort into making this," Alina pointed out.

"Hm," Jason gave a noncommittal sound but said nothing else.

"Like you're bribing us. Or planning something," Alina leaned forward as she said in a slightly accusatory tone, her eyes locked on Jason.

"Huh," Jason gave another noncommittal grunt, this time with a nod and raise of his eyebrows, impressed at Alina's deduction.

"What are you planning?" Alina finally asked with narrowed eyes.

"Secret," Jason answered with a wink and Alina rolled her eyes.

"Fine," she relented with a humph. "Keep your secrets. Probably just you buttering us up before you bring your girlfriend to move in."

Alice and Maple, whose sole concerns were the waffles, whipped their heads to glare at Jason, gawking at him with eagle eyes to discern whether Alina was right. Jason's grin faded as he felt all three girls burrowing their gazes at him sharply and he coughed before giving a flimsy excuse. "You guys all ready to head to school?"

"Just need to put our jackets and shoes on," Alina said as she downed the last of her milkshake. Alice and Maple quickly went back to finishing their waffles while Alina stood up. "Alright, time to head out."

"Actually," Jason stopped her from going before turning to Ava. "Ava, dear, would you mind dropping Alle and Maple off today? I need to run a checkup on Alice."

"I'm not sure a mere commoner like me can do such a task," Ava hummed before replying, completely stumping Jason.

"Please, milady?" Jason requested with a slight bow and Ava relented.

"Hmm, much better," Ava answered as Alina giggled and the two, along with Maple, left for the entrance.

Alone with Jason, Alice shifted uncomfortably in her chair. Jason smiled before checking her forehead and asking softly, "How do you feel? Still hungry?"

From experience, Jason knew how famished one would be after using their ESPer power, especially when it was Energy Manipulation. However, he raised an eyebrow when he saw Alice burp and shake her head with content.

Strange, Jason mused as he looked over Alice again. Any sort of ESPer power burns metabolism and makes one hungry. If she isn't hungry, then was it ESPer powers she uses to heal herself . . . or something else?

Jason was concerned about Alice but also speculated on how calm she was during the healing process, deducing that she knew about it beforehand.

I might have to do some tests but what could it be if not an ESPer ability? Jason frowned. What other ability can bring someone back from the dead - !

A thought crossed Jason's mind and he felt a chill pass down his back as he turned sharply to study Alice.

No, he thought grimly. Another ability can do that. No, not an ability. A Curse.

". . . Did she inherit it from me?" Jason muttered softly as pain flitted through his eyes. A curse might seem like an ability - a blessing - to some, but Jason knew that it moreover bore a resemblance to a torment; there was always a drawback when it came to curses, no matter how beneficial it seemed.

But it explains why the Society wants her so badly, Jason analyzed. They were interested in both mine and Hel's curse too, which isn't surprising considering they're fanatical followers of the Pantheons.

Jason kneeled until he was the same height as Alice. He placed two hands on her face, one on each cheek as he gazed into her eyes.

She was previously with them, practically grew up with them. Did they torture her back then? Experiment on her? Jason asked himself. And it all happened cause I had my head in my ass for far too long.

"Daddy?" Alice asked softly, bemused on why Jason had such a guilty, pain-filled gaze in his eyes.

"It's nothing, baby," Jason roused himself and smiled at Alice before pulling her into a hug.

I wasn't there when you needed me but -

"I will never leave you alone again. Never," Jason whispered firmly while brushing a kiss on her head. Various emotions filled Alice's eyes before she hugged him back tightly.

Jason picked Alice up and held her in his arms, smiling as he asked, "Do you wanna see something cool?"

Alice nodded and Jason closed his eyes, focusing intensely for a moment. In front of him, the space began breaking down with hairline cracks forming as if it were glass. The cracks spread and thickened like someone invisible was applying pressure on the spacetime continuum itself. Finally, with a crash, the continuum of reality and space-time shattered, breaking into shards of glass that stood still like it was frozen in time.

"Pretty cool?" Jason asked.

"Pretty. But also scary," Alice nodded before saying, her eyes locked on the floating shards around them. Her eyes shone like a kaleidoscope as she observed something through the shattered fragments of reality around her. She continued, locked in a trance before Jason covered her eyes.

"They're not real," he said slowly. "Just . . . echoes of what could and might have been. Don't look for too long."

"What'll happen if I do?" Alice asked with a swallow, fearing the answer.

"Nothing," Jason replied. "You'll just lose track of time and wake up when you get hungry. But you'll never forget what you saw, what could've been."

Before Alice could mull over what he meant, Jason nudged and gestured at her to look at something.

"Try to look past all that and focus on what's in front of you," Jason said mysteriously as he walked her past the floating fragments. Alice followed his advice and gazed past the shards and raised her eyebrows in surprise: she could see something fluttering like a hazy mirage through the shattered continuum.

"What is that?" Alice asked, both frightened and intrigued.

"Why, the rabbit's hole, my dear Alice," Jason answered with a smile as he deftly avoided the remaining shards and entered the hole in reality.

The familiar feeling of passing through space didn't occur as they both walked into the opening. Jason had intentionally made a stable connection to his pocket dimension; he had done this to prevent any mishap, such as the dislocation of organs, from occurring to Alice.

On the other side of the shattered reality was what appeared to be a giant hall made of dreary cold stone. Pillars of solid stone, taller than she could see, held the magnificent yet dead hall up. Strangely, as she gazed upwards, she realized she couldn't see the roof; perpetual darkness - a lingering shadow - moving and dancing like mist, hung atop their heads. A nearby large rectangular window, protected by glass, allowed Alice to peek outside, but the same swirling darkness that engulfed the roof prevented her from catching a glimpse.

"Is this . . . the insides of a castle?" Alice asked, excitement and confusion written on her face.

"Uhh, something like that. I think," Jason added under his breath. "It's my . . . secret hideout. You're the only person who knows of this place."

"But where is this?" Alice continued to ask inquisitively.

"Another space, kinda like another world," Jason replied before realizing that Alice was still bemused and he added, "Somewhere safe."

"Oh," Alice answered, slightly overwhelmed by everything she was seeing and experiencing. "Isn't it dark and gloomy though?"

"Hm, good point," Jason gave a noncommittal grunt before acceding to her statement.

He clicked his fingers and a bright glow filled the halls. Bright jewelled stones, placed on walls and chandeliers shone and glowed on the empty hall like golden rays, illuminating the place brightly.

"Wow!" Alice leapt out from Jason's arms and ran around the hall, exploring the place like an inquisitive cat, her blue eyes shining as she glanced everywhere.

"Like the place?" Jason asked.

"Mhm!" Alice nodded quickly like a pecking bird. "This place is so cool! Little cold and scary though."

"I'll warm up the place," Jason replied before holding out his hand for Alice. "There's still a bit more to show you. Wanna see your room, princess?"

Alice gasped as she skipped to Jason, her big eyes wider than ever before.

"I have a princess room?!" she asked excitedly.

"Yep," Jason nodded with a smile. "Been setting it up for you for a while now. In case you ever needed a safe place to stay in."

"Show me, show me!"

"Alright, alright. As you wish, my princess."

Jason led Alice throughout the place, showing her not only her room but allowing her to explore the doors that he could open. Finally, the last room Alice explored was a familiar one: a darkly lit room with a slab atop which a young teenager slept peacefully. Her white dress contrasted against her tawny hands which held a crystallized flower that was half-decayed, without saying a word walked up to the slab and placed his hand over Helena's hands. The flower underneath began to bud again, regaining life as Jason's face turned pallid. Alice slowly walked towards them, her head tilted as she watched Helen carefully.

"Who is she?" Alice finally asked when Jason finished transferring his lifeforce to the flower.

Jason smiled forlornly as he fixed a strand of Helena's hair.

"Your other aunt, my sister, Helen Troya," he said softly.

"Aunt Alle has a twin?!" Alice asked in surprise once she saw Helen's features.

"No, not a twin," Jason corrected. "She's twenty-two this year."

"But - she - " Alice stuttered as she saw Helena's face. Her face suddenly fell as a thought crossed her mind and she turned to Jason bleakly. "Is she . . . dead?"

"No," Jason denied strongly. "Just . . . asleep. For now."

Alice nodded, watching Jason's face carefully before slowly asking, "Aunt Alle doesn't know, does she?"

". . . No," Jason hesitated before admitting frankly. "If she knew, she'd think she was just a replacement. But that's not what she is."

"I don't get it," Alice said with her eyebrows cutely wrinkled together.

"It's nothing," Jason patted Alice's head before turning to look at Helena, his gaze turning soft.

"Hey, Hel," he said gently. Using both hands, Jason placed Alice in front of him as he introduced her. "This's Alice. My daughter - your niece.

"Alice. This is your aunt. Your aunt," Jason added. "Aunt Hel."

"Aunt . . . Hell?" Alice repeated with wide eyes, misinterpreting the nickname Jason was using, much to the latter's obliviousness as he continued chatting with Hel.

***

Emily, dressed and ready for school, came down from her room after fixing her makeup. She had only used some light mascara and a bit of rouge lipstick to accentuate her beauty before heading to the kitchen to prepare some toast for her siblings. However, before she reached the kitchen, her eyes fell on a pair of muddy construction boots and she froze, her eyes panicking for a moment before she calmed down and pulled out her phone, texting Jared and Mia as quickly as she could. Within a minute or two, both came down as stealthily as they could and Emily gestured at them to quickly leave with her as all three hurriedly placed their boots and shoes on.

"And where are all of you off to in a hurry?"

A voice from the stairs above called out to them sleazily from behind. Emily paused, closed her eyes before taking a deep breath, and turned around. A man with sleazy features, unkempt hair, and scraggly beard gazed at them demeaningly through beady eyes. His eyes briefly glanced at Mia, who was hiding behind both Jared and Emily before turning to gaze at the latter as he slowly came down from the stairs. His steps had an unsteady gait as he took a swing from a cheap bottle of beer that smelt like pigswill, his eyes never leaving Emily who felt uncomfortable from the gaze her foster father was giving her. As his eyes moved down her body, Jared took a step forward and blocked Emily from his father's sight.

"Going to school?" the father asked nonchalantly as he took another swing from his bottle.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Mia asked quietly and her father glared at her.

"This is my home. I'm not allowed here anymore?"

"I didn't -"

"I know what you meant," he cut a timid Mia off. "The building we were constructing was warded off by AEM. Something about the construction site being unstable after an accident last night." [1]

"We're leaving," Jared said quietly before pushing Emily and Mia out the door.

Their father watched them quietly leave without saying a word, his eyes on Emily until the door closed. Outside, all three sighed with relief as soon as Jared closed the door. Soon, they put aside the tumultuous feelings they had and began walking to the bus station.

"Keep an eye on Mia," Emily said quietly to Jared, who grabbed her sleeve.

"I'm more concerned about you," he said to Emily.

"What do you mean?" Emily asked when though she knew the answer.

"Mia, can you flag a taxi on your app? I need to ask Emily something," Jared said as he turned to Mia.

"Wait that's-" Emily tried stopping Jared but he interrupted her.

"I'll be paying, I have some cash."

"Ok!" Mia smiled cheerfully, but the smile faded as soon as she turned around and walked ahead. As she pulled out a ride-sharing app on her phone, she hesitated as she recalled Jason's contact info. For a moment, she considered telling Jason what was happening; she was sure that Jason would have a solution. But at the same time, she noticed how distraught Emily was last night after Jason left and immediately felt conflicted.

Is he a good guy or not? Mia asked herself, unsure as she had only met Jason once and briefly at that. Her hand then swiped his contact info away and she instead hailed a cab.

"How did you get that money?" Emily asked Jared with a hint of interrogation.

"I've been saving up for a while now," Jared fibbed.

"Huh. I thought that you were finally coming home late cause you snagged a girl but it turns out you're working?" Emily pointed out.

"Part-time," Jared added. "And my grades haven't slipped so you can't tell anyone. You do, and I'll tell everyone you're dating your teach."

"You brat! Don't you dare - !"

"Then don't tell anyone I'm working," Jared said. "Also, that's not the point. I wanted to tell you -"

"What's wrong?" Emily asked Jared who had a complicated look on his face.

"Listen, I - uh - I can't believe I'm gonna say this . . . but maybe you should stay at Jason's place," Jared finally said with mixed emotions.

"Uh, excuse me?" Emily asked incredulously.

"Just - you - like a sleepover with his sister?" Jared stuttered as he suggested.

Emily raised an eyebrow as she sent him a slightly amused look. "I thought you didn't like him?"

"I don't," Jared admitted quickly. "But I think it's safer than you staying here, especially now that he's back."

"Relax, he wouldn't do anything," Emily sneered but Jared shook his head.

"He won't do anything with Mia but you're not his daughter. Em, I'm serious. Please stay with Jason and Alina for the time being."

"Ok, I'll think about - wait," Emily caved in before turning to look at Jared suspiciously. "How do you know Jason had a sister? And her name? Alina?"

"I . . . we met at the hospital when . . ." Jared fumbled, his cheeks slightly red. "I just remember her . . . what?"

Emily's face had a big grin as she looked at Jared blush. "Oooh, you remember her? Huh, someone's blushing!"

"What? No, it's not like that!" Jared said quickly. "I just . . . admire her a lot. She's really strong and, well, I couldn't help but get jealous."

Emily's smile faded as she noticed the look in Jared's eyes, the same look she had when she gazed at Jason. The feeling of inferiority, of not feeling worthy enough to even look at a person who seemed to be way above them . . .

"Hey," Emily firmly grasped Jared's arm. "You are going to be an ESPer and a strong one at that. So, if you like her, don't hesitate and think you're not good enough. Look at me, right?"

"You're still an ESPer, Em," Jared said with a shake of his head. "And, really, I'm not interested in her like that. I just think she's admirable."

"If you say so," Emily said with a shrug.

"So you'll think about staying at this place?"

"I'll think about it."

"Well, think fast. If you take too long, I'll just text him to pick you up."

"Damned brat! Whose side are you on?!"

The two continued playfully joking as they ran to Mia who gestured at them that their ride had arrived.

***

Jason and Alice walked back into the living room of their mansion as the portal to Jason's pocket space closed and the void around it repaired itself. Alice seemed to be preoccupied as she frowned, a pair of cute dimples appearing on her face as she scrunched her eyebrows adorably.

"Something wrong, Alice?" Jason asked and Alice looked at him thoughtfully.

"Daddy why show me all this now?" Alice asked seriously. "What's happening?"

Very perceptive, Jason thought with a wry smile.

"I think I've been going about all this wrong," Jason said as Alice clambered up a dining chair and grabbed what remained of her milkshake to drink. Alice tilted her head with bemusement as she licked the white moustache of foam that formed on her upper lip. "I've been reacting, not acting. Sitting down and waiting instead of doing something.

"What I'm trying to say is," Jason lowered himself to Alice's height. "I'm going to look for your mother. And I want you to come with me."

Alice froze, the glass on her hand nearly falling off not for Jason's quick reflexes. Her eyes widened with a glimmer of hope as she gazed straight into Jason's eyes.

"Really? You're gonna look for mommy?" she asked expectantly.

". . . Yeah," Jason said after a pause in which he was nodding constantly. Alice jumped into his arms and wrapped her arms around his neck, hugging him as tightly as she could.

"Thank you, daddy, thank you!" Alice sobbed through tears. Even though she loved living here in her new life, Alice was still a child who loved her mother very much.

Jason said nothing else but held her just as tightly and the two remained like that for a while before Alice asked, "But where will you look? Mommy could be anywhere."

"The place where she learnt everything," Jason said quietly. "The place I never wanted to visit again."

Jason pulled Alice into his arms and stood up. He turned his head in a certain direction, his eyes narrowed before looking at Alice.

"We're going to visit the Asāsiyyūn . . . and Al-Muealam. Their leader . . ."

. . . And the man who wanted to adopt me, Jason finished in his mind with a grimace.

"We're going to Syria."

***

A sea of blackness filled his vision as he barely felt the world around him. It submerged his entire head, entered his nostrils and open mouth, suffocating and drowning him till he couldn't breathe. With a splutter, he came to while spitting water from his mouth. In front of him was a man walking away with a bucket and, shaking the excess water from his head, he quickly came to the conclusion that he had water thrown on him to wake him up.

"Mr. John, I apologize for the abrupt and rather uncivil manners," a voice hidden in the shadows greeted. He gestured at the breakfast set laid before John on the table.

Papa John winced as he tried glancing at the figure, but the bruised eye he was nursing caused his eyes to blur. After leaving Emily and escaping the orphanage, John was attacked and kidnapped by armoured men who beat him unconscious before beginning him here to, whom John assumed, was their leader. The room he was currently residing in seemed like a conference room; they were multiple chairs across a long table and many were filled with shadowy figures who hid in the darkness and away from the only source of light at the center of the table. Only the man at the head of the table spoke, smoking a Cuban cigar with skilled sophistication.

"Who are you? What do you want from me?" John asked.

"Straight to business then," the smoking man said briskly. "My associates and I think you are uniquely qualified to join our alliance. Before you ask, yes, I am aware of who you are and what you do."

"Then you know I'm just a small-time gangster," John answered as he glanced back and forth at the shadowy people around him

"Before we get to negotiations, how about we have a demonstration?" The shining smoking man suggested while sliding a crystal towards John.

The latter hesitated for a short while before touching the stone, but as soon as he did, he fell into a trance. Minutes later, he groggily shook his head and turned to look at each member sitting at the desk with surprise and apprehension.

The Reaper, the Shuixian Sect, and a cadet branch of the Rothschild? John thought as the brief information within the stone informed him of those around him. And that's not even counting the other crazies here, especially . . .

John looked back at the smoking man, the corner of the latter's lip etched in a curved smile, visible by the following embers of his cigar.

"I still don't understand why you would need or even want me," John said slowly as he gathered his thoughts. He knew full well that he would've been dead or evaluated as a simple thug had it not been for something these people wanted from him.

"Quite astute, Mr. John," the smoking man replied with slight amusement as though he knew what John was thinking of. "It's because we have a common enemy. Jason Sage."

"I don't know what you're -"

"John, please, you're among friends. There's no need to hide the fact that you tried to have him killed in Budapest," the smoking man interrupted quietly, insulted that John would pretend to not know his crime. "We all want him dead, for various reasons. Should we not then unite?"

John didn't answer immediately. Instead, he watched them smoking man carefully before slowly saying, "Because I don't trust you. What is your problem with him? Isn't he technically your son?"

The smoking man rubbed his chest before leaving forward, the dim light from the center of the table finally revealing his face. His tanned skin held a golden-reddish hue of complexion, and his eyes shone like two grey moonstones. His medium-sized hair was swept back and a clean stubble covered his face which was equally handsome and sinister.

"Because," Aarav Sage replied menacingly. "He took everything from me. And I intend to do the same to him; I'm going to destroy the ones closest to him. Corrupt them. Break them. And turn them all against him. And once he has lost everything and everyone he cherishes, then I will put a bullet through his heart."