(3° person POV)

Serena, Maria and Ari jumped off the car when it stopped in front of a gate with two angel statues on both sides atop stone pillars. As the car goes away, Maria comments:

(Maria): "These statues are golems as well?"

She asks, as she remembers vividly the first time she entered her new home in this island, the mansion where she and Serena live. As if to answer her, both statues look at them and speak at the same time:

(Golems): "Identified, Arius Logos, Serena Pendragon, Maria Silver, members of the same group as Umbra Vane, with permission from the same to enter the house. Welcome."

They say as the gates open. Smiling to each other, they walk in while saying:

(Ari): "As expected, Umbra knew that we would come to his house..."

He says, sighting. Both girls just laugh wryly. As they go to the mansion, somebody comes out from the main door. It's a maid, more specifically, Athena.

(Athena): “Ara, Ari-sama, welcome. These ladies are?”

She asks, looking at Maria and Serena. The girls bow lightly and introduce themselves:

(Serena): “My name is Serena Pendragon, first princess of England.”

(Maria): “My name is Maria Silver, personal maid and bodyguard of Serena-Ojou-sama.”

Athena grabs her skirt and raises it a bit while bowing, in a polite compliment.

(Athena): “It’s an honor to meet Serena-sama. My name is Athena Voltaire, Master Umbra’s head maid. Welcome to Shadow Manor, Master Umbra’s residence named after him. Please, come in. my master is in the back, bathing the dogs.”

Serena, Maria and Ari followed Athena inside the house. Serena and Maria looked all around while inside the mansion. The decoration is beautiful, in tones of dark red and gold with a great decoration, with corridors with armors standing by the walls.

(Ari): “Last time I came here I didn’t see any dogs… did Umbra get them after I came here last time?”

(Athena): “No, master umbra acquired his hounds a long time ago. However, in the last time that Ari-sama came here a maid was taking both for a walk while the master wasn’t here.”

(Ari): “Oh, I see.”

Ari said simply. He’s really surprised that Umbra never mentioned that he has dogs in the time that he knew the guy. They quickly walk through the mansion, going to the backyard. As they approach, they start hearing some noises coming from outside, and Umbra’s voice.

(Umbra): “Goddammit Padomay! Stay still!”

And then. Barking and growling, as well some whimpering coming from a dog.

(Umbra): “Anu! Help me!”

An energetic bark answered, followed by a splash. The three visitors looked at each other. His dogs must be big. Athena also called them “hounds”, meaning that they must be of some hunting breed.

Athena opened the door and the sight almost made them have a heart attack. The is a pool that’s around one meter deep with three meters radius, with two enormous creatures inside together with Umbra. One of them is completely black with red eyes, it’s black fur now covered with white foam.

The other one is with it’s front legs over the black one on it’s right side, holding it down on place, with it’s completely white fur also covered in foam and its blue eyes glowing with playfulness. As for Umbra, he’s holding a big brush, scrubbing the big black wolf, who is whimpering as it tries to scape from the white wolf’s grasp.

Umbra’s outfit is also appropriated to the situation, white tank top exposing the thick and muscular arms, blue shorts and his black hair tied into a ponytail.

(Umbra): “Stop being such an whimp, Padomay! It’s just water and soap!”

He says, taking the bucket that’s floating on the water and filling it with water, splashing the water on the black wolf, rising the soap on it’s fur. The black wolf, Padomay, tried to resist, but Anu, the white wolf, is still holding him down, barking and panting.

Serena, Ari and Maria are looking at the scene with widen eyes while Athena just smiles warmly. As he throws another water bucket as Padomay looks at him with his ears down and upturned eyes. Seeing that, Umbra fill the bucket again and says while laughing.

(Umbra): “Don’t even try to appeal to my merciful side, Padomay! That’s pathetic!”

He says, throwing some water in the wolfs face, making the animal pull back his face and shake it to get rid of the water. Umbra laughs and Anu barks, wagging her tail.

(Athena): “Master Umbra! Your guests have arrived!”

Looking at them, Umbra gives a handsome smile and says:

(Umbra): “You guys arrived early than I thought! Wait a bit while I finish here. Athena, you can guide them to my room. I’ll be over soon.”

He says, simply, throwing more water on Padomay. The three gusts are guided, still dumbfounded with the scene. As Athena guides them, they come to themselves and start talking.

(Serena): “Those… aren’t dogs, they are wolves!”

(Maria): “No, Ojou-sama, they are not wolves! They are literally monsters!”

(Ari): “Where the hell did Umbra get those two creatures…”

Listening to their talk, Athena explains:

(Athena): “Master Umbra was on Russia a couple of years ago, and found the two pups lost in the snow, and took both home to raise them. As monsters, both are intelligent and as it was Master Umbra who raised them, they hold no grudge against humans. He also trained them very well, so they always obey him.”

She says proudly, as if it was her that had created both wolves.

(Athena): “Before Master came to the Five Elements Island, he taught the wolves to hunt and help him in hunting, as well taught them how t be good mount while he mounts them. Those two are the pride of Master Umbra.”

She says. Serena then asks with curiosity:

(Serena): “Wait, he rides them?”

(Athena): “Yes. It’s a sight to behold. Seeing a person riding a wolf is more surprising than you would expect.”

Then, they arrive at the master bedroom, Umbra’s bedroom. The dark double doors are decorated with two figures made of gold. On the left, and golden angel facing the demon on the opposite door, both with their wings spread.

(Maria): “How… fancy…”

She says. Although the decoration is indeed different, it isn’t too farfetched judging by the decoration of the Royal Palace of England. And also, she does know that the Vane family is one of the richest people in the world, and she wouldn’t expect less from a member of the family.

And both figures are made of lines of gold, and are extremely well made, focusing more in the beauty rather than being showy, although the lines are made of gold. There are also two armors in each side of the door, the left one is white and golden, and the right one is black and red. Athena doesn’t hold ceremony, and opens the door without hesitation.

Serena and Maria look dumfounded to the room, and Ari doesn’t react, as he already came here once to play Umbra’s games. The room is also well decorated, the furniture is nice and classy, combining well with the dark red walls and the dark wooden floor.

The bed is BIG, enough to fit around six adults side by side, reinforced with metal. The room also has two big windows in both sides of the bed. The walls have some paintings, mostly of beautiful landscapes in various weather, including one of a tornado, a blizzard and a storm.

Serena and Maria liked the decoration, everything fits together nicely, and the thing that takes more attention is on the wall to the left. There is a couch near the furniture on the left wall. On the wall, the shelfs with the enormous TV, consoles and games is sitting quietly.

(Athena): “I will bring some tea in a few moments. Please, if you need anything, just press the button on the arm of the sofa and a maid will come immediately. Well then, feel at home. Excuse me.”

She says, bowing lightly and going out of he room, closing the door behind her. Serena and Maria just look at each other.

(Serena): “Is it really fine for us to be like this in Umbra-san’s room?”

Ari laughed lightly, saying:

(Ari): “Don’t worry, if she said that, it was Umbra that ordered it. I’m curious in how Umbra predicted that we would come here.”

He said, approaching the couch. Both girls followed him immediately, almost staying behind, both fidgeting a bit. Noticing their behavior, Ari asks:

(Ari): “What with you both, you both look so nervous…”

(Serena): “Well… that’s…”

She says, blushing a bit. Maria completes:

(Maria): “We both grew up being around only girls and studying in girls’ school only because of our mothers. It’s our first time inside the bedroom of a boy…”

Hearing that, Ari breaks up in laugher, making both girls pout cutely.

(Ari): “Didn’t both of you visited my house already?”

(Maria): “Ari-chan doesn’t count!”

Ari continues laughing, not even a little offended. He then sits on the sofa, and the girls mimic him. They both notice a keyboard on the low table right in front of the sofa together with the TV’s control and the numerous controls for the consoles.

Ari takes the lead, taking the control and the wireless keyboard, which has a touchpad to control the mouse. Turning on the tv, he changes to the HDMI input and asks to the girls:

(Ari): “So, which console you girls want to play?”

(Maria): “Eh?”

(Serena): “W-well… let’s start with something that all of us can play together…”

(Ari): “Umbra has Mortal Kombat X on the memory of his PS4, so let’s take the PS4 controls. Let’s me turn the ps4 on…”

He says, pressing the keyboards enter. The keyboard turns on, with the letters on the keys glowing softly in a red light. The TV changes to an interface with the many consoles listed on it. clicking on the PS4 icon, the console turns on and the TV’s image changes to the PS4’s interface.

Taking one of the joysticks, Ari selects Mortal Kombat X and says:

(Ari): “Who is going first?”

As he says that, the door opens. However, it isn’t Athena, it’s Umbra, followed by his wolves. The first one to ether is Padomay, with his ears flat and his tail between his legs, whimpering softly. Then umbra, still dressed in the same way. Right after him is Anu, with her ears upright and her tail wagging while panting, happy.

Padomay jumps on the bed, making a full 360 turn and laying down on the bed. While closing the door, Umbra says:

(Umbra): “Whimper all you want, it won’t change the fact that I will give another bath when you start to stink again.” Noticing the three sitting on his sofa, he smiles and say: “Oh, Ari, Serena-san and Maria-san! Did Athena bring the tea yet?”

(Ari): “No, not yet. She must get here soon though.”

(Umbra): “I see. I’ll change clothes and join you on the sofa.”

He says, taking off his shirt, revealing his muscular and well sculpted body. Serena and Maria, who were looking to him while both were talking, and now it’s their first time seeing a live body of a shirtless man. And a good one at that. Both girls naturally blush, and cover their faces in shame.

(Serena): “Umbra-san! We’re still here! Please, don’t undress so suddenly!”

Umbra, seeing their reaction, laughs, saying:

(Umbra): “Well, this is my house after all! Also, if you don’t want to see, don’t look! But if you want to see you’re welcome to look all you want!”

He says, smiling, also taking off his short, now dressed only in his underwear. Maria and Serena, who were peeking between their fingers, released a cute “kya!” each and turned back to the TV, their faces red as tomatoes. Ari didn’t avoid looking at Umbra though, saying:

(Ari): “I didn’t know that you had wolves as pets, Umbra.”

While getting dressed in a brown pair of sweatpants and a light green shirt, umbra said:

(Umbra): “Well, you never asked. Also, you would freak out if I told you that I have two wolf monsters as pets or you wouldn’t believe if I told you, right?”

He says, walking to the couch, sitting right beside Serena, on her left with Maria on her right, and Ari on Maria’s left.

(Umbra): “So, what are you guys playing?”