Chapter One-Hundred Eighteen: Roll the Dice

Chapter 118

Roll the Dice

A soldier backed away into a corner.

Soldier: “Please! I’m a single father! I have a family! I need to—”

He was cut off with a kukri driven into his mouth and through his brain, killing him. Percy smirked. He grabbed the kukri by the handle and pulled it out. He flicked the blood and gray matter off his blade. Tristan winced.

Tristan: “Percy, he was surrendering and begging for mercy.”

He said firmly. Percy cupped his cheeks.

Percy: “Like that matters to moi, my ice prince? He should never have signed up for this job if he didn’t want to tango with me!”

He chuckled and bowed.

Tristan groaned and rolled his eyes and looked behind them to see a bunch of soldiers slaughtered by Percy. Blood, guts, and brains covered the floor.

Tristan: “And you don’t think this is overkill?”

He challenged. Percy smiled as he looked at his reflection on his blade.

Percy: “Non, non, mon chéri. This is me going easy!”

He slashed his blade through the air.

Celeste: “What the fuck ever! Instead of doing this fuckin’ ballet recital, where is Jaxon?!”

She hissed.

Percy: “What do you think we’re doing, darling? I’m making it easy to get his graceful footsteps out unscathed!”

He shrugged and shook his head.

Celeste: “Nah, you’re killin’ ‘cause you like it.”

Percy wagged his head.

Percy: “Two birds, one stone!”

He stuck his tongue and wiggled his split tongue.

A soldier snuck up behind Percy, and Celeste delivered a powerful uppercut through his mouth, where Celeste had his heart in her hand. Tristan shuddered and felt nauseated. Celeste pulled her hand out and dropped his beating heart on the floor. Percy gasped.

Percy: “Darling, you saved moi?!”

He cupped his cheeks.

Celeste: “Get fucked, idiot! You were busy looking at Tristan’s ass and not paying attention to your surroundings!”

She snapped. Tristan cupped his mouth and coughed, feeling his nausea soar. Deimos rolled his eyes.

Percy: “Well, look at him, darling. Isn’t he breathtaking?!”

He gasped as Tristan bent over to throw up. Deimos knit his eyebrows and patted his back.

Celeste: “Yes, he’s so sexy when he’s throwing his guts up.”

She said dryly.

Deimos: “Come on, we’re wasting time. Let’s find Jaxon.”

He said firmly as he patted Tristan’s back.

Percy: “Aren’t you the killjoy?”

He harrumphed.

Deimos: “I don’t know what the fuck they’re doing to Jaxon and would rather find him than slaughter a bunch of other soldiers or watch you slaughter them.”

He fired back, his tone as firm as his.

They ventured down the foyer with Deimos aiding Tristan.

Tristan: “I agree with him.”

He said feebly and took a deep breath. Deimos put his arms around Tristan, and a purple glow surrounded them as he healed him. Tristan mouthed a thank you to Deimos.

Percy: “Everything you do is precious, my ice prince.”

He batted his eyelashes.

Celeste: “And everything you do is fucking annoying!”

She countered.

They ascended another flight of stairs and went down another foyer. They saw a door with a small window. Tristan peeked in and saw people in a control room watching Maxx on monitors. Percy leaned over Tristan’s shoulder and whispered in his ear.

Percy: “Which one should I kill first?”

Tristan yelped and jumped away.

Tristan: “DON’T DO THAT!”

He snapped.

Celeste cocked her gun at Percy.

Celeste: “I will kill you first. How about that?”

She said wryly. Percy’s shoulders shook as he chuckled. He rose and placed his hand on the barrel.

Percy: “Please, darling, I was teasing him.”

He put his hands up.

Deimos looked in.

Deimos: “I don’t know. They’re already being tortured. They have to watch Maxx all the time.”

He said flatly.

Tristan: “This has nothing to do with Jaxon or us, so let’s mosey as Celeste would say.”

He rolled his eyes.

Percy: “Can’t I kill just one, my ice prince?”

He grinned. Tristan glared at Percy.

They heard footsteps approaching and braced themselves. Tristan, Deimos, and Celeste froze when they saw Ichiro. Percy grinned.

Percy: “Bonsoir, Monsieur Tachibana! Jaxon told me… enough about you!”

He bowed. Ichiro sneered at him.

Ichiro: “Oh, so you’re the intruder? I should have known vermin like you are associated with Jiro.”

He growled.

Celeste: “Where did you take Jaxon, Ichiro?!”

She snapped and stomped her foot. Ichiro gazed at Celeste and reddened. A big grin spread across his lips.

Ichiro: “If I tell you, will you make out with me?”

He asked in a small voice. Celeste’s face twisted with disgust. She bared her teeth at him. Percy twirled his blade.

Percy: “A fascinating way of saying you don’t know, mon ami.”

Tristan nodded in agreement.

Tristan: “He wouldn’t be here if he were responsible for Jaxon being kidnapped.”

He added.

Percy twirled his kukri and pointed it at Ichiro, who gnashed his teeth and stood back.

Percy: “Ça ne fait rien! We shall dance to the death, Ichiro, so dance with moi!”

He laughed. Ichiro turned around and ran.

Percy: “That’s right, petite souris, run!”

He drew his blade and chased him.

Tristan: “Percy, we have to find Jaxon!”

He called out as he ran after him. Deimos and Celeste followed.

Celeste: “He might lead us to Jaxon!”

Deimos: “More like a trap and this dipshit is falling for it hook, line, and sinker!”

He huffed.

~

Jaxon was thrown on the bed, his shirt open, and his hands cuffed behind him. Minerva slowly slid off his boxer briefs, revealing his penis and testicles. He reddened, panting furiously at her, feeling embarrassment and anger. Minerva smirked and tossed his boxer briefs with his other clothes on the floor. He slid away from her.

Jaxon: “I’m NOT changing my mind!”

He hissed through clenched teeth. She dropped her robe, revealing her sheer black lace bra, lace panties, and stockings held by a garter belt. She climbed onto the bed. Jaxon flipped over to stand up, but she grabbed him, wrapping her arm around him to secure him. Jaxon gasped and gritted his teeth. Her mouth was at his neck.

Minerva: “Playing hard to get, are we?”

She whispered and breathed on his neck. Jaxon felt goosebumps form and pop all over his body.

Minerva: “I could give you anything you ever wanted, Jiro…”

She purred, kissed his neck, and sucked on it. Jaxon let out a sharp gasp and jerked his head away.

Jaxon: “S-STOP!”

He hissed.

Minerva: “My, my, Jiro… You are so sexy and handsome…”

She said softly as her hands trailed over his chest and down his torso. She had her eye on his penis and grinned.

Jaxon caught her glancing, flicked his gaze down, and glared at her.

Jaxon: “Don’t you dare!”

He growled. Minerva put her hand over Jaxon’s mouth and waved a feather around. Jaxon’s eyes widened as the color drained from his face.

Minerva: “Tickle, tickle, sexy boy…”

She purred as she brushed the feather against his penis. Jaxon groaned and grunted, throwing his head back and laughing through her hand clamped over his mouth.

Jaxon: “HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH NRHNHRHRHRHRHRHRHR! HRHRHRHRHRHRCCH RHH!! HRMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHRHMM!!!”

He laughed through her hand clamped over his mouth and struggled to get away. She smirked tickling the tip and dragging it over his penis and tickling his ballsack. Jaxon screamed with laughter and threw his head back.

Jaxon: “MRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRRRRRR!! HHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRRRRRH!!! HMHMHRHRHRHRRRR HRHRHRHRHRHRHR!! HRRHRHRCCH HHRHRHRHRHRH!! HRHRHRHR!!”

He laughed hard through her hand gagging him, reddening as his frustration and anger soared, making this overwhelming for him. She smirked, relishing in his torment and swirled the feather over his tip. Jaxon’s eyes fluttered as he laughed and gasped through his stifled laughter. He shook his head to shake her hand from his mouth.

Jaxon: “HRHRHRHRHRHR!! RHRHRHRHRHRRRRRRRR!! HHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH! N CRHRHRHRHRHRHRNH HRHRHRHRHRHRCHM HHNH!! HRHRHRHRHRRRRRRRRHRHRHRRRR!!”

He laughed as tears dripped from his eyes.

Jaxon: “HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHR!! CMHMHMHMHMHMRMHHM! HMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMRH MMHMHMHMHMHMHMHMM! HRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRRRR!!”

He laughed hard through her hand clamped over his mouth, and he found it difficult to breathe. All this tickling was exhausting him and overwhelming him.

Her bedroom door swung open. A tall, athletic white man in his mid-forties to early fifties with rugged features stood in the doorway. He wore his dark purple short hair in a feathered look and wore a pastel pink pressed shirt, loosened white tie, white suit jacket, white trousers, and ivory loafers. He was Minerva’s fiancé, Armando Coronel.

Minerva stopped tickling Jaxon and let him fall onto the pillows, where he panted and tried to catch his breath.

Minerva: “What are you doing here, Armando?”

She asked coolly.

Armando: “I should ask you that, Minerva. I proposed to you in Giroledo and gave you the most romantic engagement vacation, and now I see you in bed with this kid!”

He said flippantly, extending his hand out to Jaxon, who lay there trying to catch his breath.

Minerva: “Armando, you are sweet, oh so sweet, but this young man has what it takes to lead us to greater things. It’s nothing personal.”

She smirked. Jaxon tried to struggle against his bonds. He gnashed his teeth.

Jaxon: “I…I didn’t want this! I was forced into this!”

He stammered as he panted.

Jaxon: “You should fuck off with him!”

He rasped and panted at Minerva. Minverva smirked at him. Armando sighed.

Armando: “No, I am done with her.”

He finally said.

Minerva: “Suit yourself, Armando. You spent more time at the casinos than you did with me. Not that it matters since you gambled your family’s private jet.”

She said smoothly to him and turned to Jaxon, who glowered at her with hot fury.

Minerva: “I have my eye on better men…”

She purred at Jaxon, resting her hand on his thigh. Jaxon backed away.

Jaxon: “N-NO! GET AWAY FROM ME!”

He rasped.

Jaxon: “I DON’T WANT YOU, LADY! I WANT MY GREEN QUEEN!”

He added for good measure.

Armando: “Adios, Minerva.”

He said and was about to leave, but Ichiro ran past him.

Armando: “Is that another one? Wait.”

He asked dryly and looked at Jaxon and back at Ichiro.

Armando: “Is Ichiro your brother?!”

He asked as he pointed to Jaxon. Jaxon bared his teeth.

Jaxon: “Ichiro…”

He growled.

Jaxon heard Percy calling out for Ichiro, and he heard Celeste’s, Tristan’s, and Deimos’ voices.

Jaxon: “CELESTE! I’M IN HERE!”

He called out for her. Celeste rushed up, and Percy poked his head in.

Percy: “Ohohohoho, getting busy, are we?”

He chuckled. Celeste saw red.

Celeste: “GET AWAY FROM HIM, YOU BITCH!”

She rushed in and punched Minerva in the face and sent her crashing into the wall, and slammed facedown on the floor.

Jaxon: “Babe!”

He cried and rushed to her. Celeste wrapped her arms around him and pried apart his handcuffs, breaking them. Jaxon wrapped his arms around her, feeling her form and loving her holding him in her embrace. The two shared a deep kiss.

Celeste: “Are you okay, my little prince?”

She asked breathlessly, trailing her fingers over his face.

Jaxon: “I am now that you saved me, my green queen!”

He said tenderly.

Percy: “Here you are, dollface!”

He sang to Jaxon, handing him his clothes. Jaxon pulled an irritated face and grumbled.

Jaxon: “Thanks.”

He muttered and took them from Percy. He slid his boxer briefs on and then his pants.

Tristan and Deimos entered as Jaxon started to buckle his belt and button his shirt up.

Tristan: “Are you okay, Jaxon?”

Jaxon: “Yeah, thanks, man!”

He smiled at him and put on his socks and boots. Deimos went up to Jaxon and healed him.

Jaxon: “Thanks, friendo.”

He said to him and nodded. He turned to Minerva, who was unconscious, and blew a raspberry at her.

Jaxon: “Told ya my green queen would get me!”

Percy: “Okay, Ichiro ran from us, and we have to catch him so I can kill him!”

He nodded. Jaxon rushed up to stand in front of him.

Jaxon: “NO, Percy! You’re NOT taking this from me! It’s MY destiny to kill him! He’s the one who fucked ME over!”

He said doggedly to Percy, clasping his hand over his chest. Percy smirked, and they all left Minerva’s room.

Armando: “Yeah. I’m out of here.”

He said as he was about to leave, but Ichiro snuck up and grabbed him. He plunged a needle into his neck. Armando shut his eyes tightly and groaned as the contents were injected into him. Percy turned around to witness this and grinned.

Percy: “Et tu, Brute?”

He spread his arms out. Ichiro rolled his eyes.

Ichiro: “Shut up! I had enough of your wisecracks!”

He hissed at Percy and turned to Jaxon.

Ichiro: “Hello, Jiro, your little friends were looking for you, so here is a new playmate for you and them to enjoy!”

He smirked and kicked Armando toward them, who knelt to the floor, gasping and heaving. Tristan cupped his mouth. Deimos stood protectively in front of him. Celeste stood before Jaxon to protect him. Jaxon’s jaw dropped, and he sneered at Ichiro.

Jaxon: “Typical Bitchy-ro. He knows he’s too weak to fight us, so he makes his own fighters like the cowardly little bitch he is!”

He snapped. Ichiro smirked.

Ichiro: “It’s called knowing your limits, Jiro. You should learn it sometime.”

He pressed his middle finger and forefinger to his forehead and heaved a deep sigh. Jaxon glowered at him.

Clumps of Armando’s skin fell to the floor, and bumps formed on his head as it started to swell. He made a guttural noise as he expanded and burst out of his clothing. Tristan cupped his mouth and backed away, embracing himself as he recalled Chelsea’s transformation and how greatly it affected him.

Multiple arms shot out of his torso as his body turned a royal purple, and his head formed into a giant block resembling dice. He lifted his face, showing a grinning, white clown-like face with black lips and a mouth full of long, flat teeth. Tristan shuddered but stood up and had to stand his ground.

Percy threw his head back and laughed.

Percy: “Oh, Ichiro, you amuse me SO much! You turned this broken man into a dice monster?! I will enjoy dicing him up.”

He withdrew another kukri and twirled his blades, drawing them. Ichiro glared at Percy.

Ichiro: “You are the most annoying thing I’ve ever encountered. I will be glad when my richonoid kills you!”

He growled.

Percy: “Richonoid? Sounds a bit like Ichiro. You named your own species after yourself! I love that so much!”

He laughed. Ichiro’s right eye twitched.

Tristan: “Is it me, or do you really know how to irritate these brothers?”

Jaxon groaned and furrowed his eyebrows.

Jaxon: “Yes, yes, he does.”

He drew a rough breath.

Percy: “Merci, Jaxon! It’s part of my charm!”

He bowed to him. Jaxon groaned and rolled his eyes.

The richonoid zipped up and snatched Tristan.

Deimos: “TRISTAN!”

He belted. He slammed Tristan against the wall, pinning his wrists and grabbing at his waist, legs, and hips with his other arms.

Dice Richonoid: “HELLO, GORGEOUS MAN!”

Tristan gasped in fear and then bared his teeth. The monster’s head spun in the box to show a sad expression.

Dice Richonoid: “Why so scared?”

Tristan gasped, and his heart hammered in his chest. Deimos, Celeste, Jaxon, and Percy rushed up to him.

Deimos: “Get the fuck away from him!”

He bellowed. Tristan started to form ice over the richonoid’s hands. The dice head spun to reveal a lecherous face.

Dice Richonoid: “Oh, I don’t think so!”

He teased and started tickling Tristan’s sides, underarms, inner thighs, and behind his knees. Tristan burst out laughing.

Tristan: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!!”

He shrieked with laughter. Percy gasped and cupped his cheeks.

Percy: “Oh my God! THE MAGIC SHOW!”

He said giddily and danced. Ichiro’s right eye twitched.

Ichiro: “What is this nonsense?! Why isn’t he doing that to Celeste?!”

He pouted. Celeste glared at him. Jaxon embraced himself and was glad it wasn’t him this time. He didn’t think he could take any more tickling.

Percy: “Hush! I am trying to watch the magic show!”

He shushed him.

Deimos delivered a spinning side kick to the richonoid, followed by a right hook. Tristan laughed hard as he was tickling all over. He squirmed and tried to free himself.

Tristan: “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAA!”

The richonoid’s face turned to one of anger. He stopped tickling Tristan. Tristan hung his head and panted.

Dice Richonoid: “Get lost!”

He grabbed Deimos’s hair and electrocuted him. Deimos screamed in pain, and the monster flung him across the room. Celeste and Jaxon rushed up to them. Celeste leaped out and grabbed Deimos. Jaxon healed him as a red glow surrounded him.

Jaxon: “Here you go, man!”

Deimos groaned as the pain left his body and his wounds sealed up.

Tristan: “DEIMOS!”

He cried. He turned to the richonoid with fury.

Tristan: “UNHAND ME!”

A pillar of ice shot from the floor, sending the creature crashing through the ceiling and releasing Tristan.

Tristan rushed to Deimos and knelt to him.

Tristan: “Deimos, are you okay?!”

He asked softly as he rested his head on Tristan’s lap. Deimos took Tristan’s hand and kissed it.

Celeste raised her head to the hole in the ceiling and heard people screaming. She and Jaxon saw Ichiro running down the hallway.

Jaxon: “Goddamn you, coward! Get the fuck back here!”

He rasped and chased after him.

Celeste: “Jaxon?!”

She followed him. Tristan and Deimos rose and went after them with Percy following behind.

~

They went up to the next floor to see people in the hallway fried from electricity. Percy marveled and nodded in approval.

Jaxon: “Where the fuck did that coward go?!”

He rasped, looking around for Ichiro, and stopped when he saw the dead people.

Jaxon: “Jesus…”

Percy: “I know the feeling… When someone takes my ice prince tickles from me, I can have boats of rage.”

He sighed. Tristan glared at him and delivered a slap to his face. Percy chuckled and rubbed where he had slapped him.

Percy: “I always loved your cold fury and how it contrasts to Jaxon’s spicy hot fury.”

Jaxon glared at Percy.

Deimos: “Nah, let him joke about everything. He might die otherwise.”

He said dryly.

Percy: “Joke’s on you, Deimos. I’m not afraid of dying.”

He laughed.

Celeste leaped over the bodies, whereas Tristan gingerly stepped over them. Celeste saw Jaxon’s back to the wall and approached him.

Celeste: “You okay?”

She asked softly. Jaxon nodded and smiled.

Jaxon: “Of course, babe.”

He pecked her on the lips.

They heard a man screaming and rushed down the hall.

~

The dice richonoid cornered Alfie, who embraced himself as he teared up. Cedar rushed to him and raised a DP-12. He aimed it at the richonoid and fired, blowing off a chunk of his body. Alfie screamed when he fired, covering his ears.

Cedar: “Get out of here, Alfie! I got this!”

Alfie meekly nodded.

Alfie: “Thank you, Cedar! You are so kind!”

He stammered and sobbed as he ran out.

Cedar: “Don’t mention it.”

He muttered.

~

The group saw Alfie run down the hall and vigorously push the elevator button. They heard shotgun blasts come from the room down the hall and ran toward it. They entered and saw the richnoid throw Cedar against the wall and corner him. Cedar glared at it and panted. He raised his gun, and it clicked.

Jaxon: “YOU!”

He rasped and pointed to Cedar.

Cedar: “Jiro, what happened in Seashell Cove was not my fault, and I had nothing to do with it! I’m against what he did to Chelsea, as you are!”

He cried. Tristan and Jaxon froze.

Percy: “Need help, love?”

He smirked.

The dice richonoid turned its head completely around to face Percy with a sinister grin. He rushed up to Percy to grab him, but Percy zipped away. The dice richonoid grabbed Celeste. Jaxon screamed out for her.

Jaxon: “CELESTE!”

He exclaimed. Celeste growled, jumped up, and performed a northern light suplex, crushing its torso. She did a backflip, jumping back from it.

Jaxon: “You okay, babe?”

He held her. She smiled and nodded.

Celeste: “Sure am!”

The richonoid staggered up. Tristan stomped on the floor, forming an ice path behind the creature. Deimos delivered a roundhouse kick, sending the richonoid on the path of ice sliding back.

Percy smirked and charged after it.

Percy: “Dance with me till dawn, darling!”

The richonoid squealed as it slid down the path, spinning around.

Percy: “What fantastic moves! Now it’s my turn!”

He flung his kukri at the creature with his leather cord attached, slicing its arms off. The richonoid screamed as his back slammed against the wall. Percy crashed into him, raising his two blades criss-crossed, and slashed his head right off.

Percy: “I rolled the dice and got lucky number seven!”

He cackled maniacally.

Blood splattered all over Percy, the walls, and someone else in the corridor. The head rolled over to a Greek man with swarthy skin and strong Greek features. He wore his blue-black hair slicked back and had a full beard. He wore a navy William Wescott suit and burgundy loafers. He glared indignantly at the blood on his suit. He was 67-year-old Ilias Megalos.

Percy put his hand to his mouth and laughed.

Percy: “Désolé, monsieur!”

Ilias withdrew a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his suit.

Ilias: “This suit cost me fifty thousand dollars. It’s more than your life!”

He snapped and threw the handkerchief at Percy, who snickered and bowed.

Percy: “Nice to see you’re doing well, Ilias!”

Ilias sneered at Percy.

Ilias: “Leave it to you to cause such a mess! How the Hell did you get in and why are you here?!”

He said gruffly.

Celeste, Jaxon, Tristan, and Deimos went to the hall to join Percy. Deimos paused when he saw Ilias.

Ilias: “Hello, Deimos. I’m not at all surprised you’re involved with this punk!”

He spat.

Deimos: “I’m NOT! I’m here to rescue my friend!”

He said defiantly and stomped his foot.

Ilias: “Whatever. Look at this mess! I should bill you hoodlums to clean it up on top of the dry cleaning, it will cost to clean my suit!”

He bellowed.

Cedar stepped out, and his jaw dropped when he saw Ilias.

Cedar: “Mr. Megalos!”

Ilias scowled at him.

Ilias: “What was this thing, Cedar?! Why is it here?! I should fire whoever sent it here!”

Cedar paused and swallowed hard.

Celeste: “Oh, that was sent to kill Percy and the rest of us.”

Ilias turned to her.

Ilias: “I would promote who sent it… and fire them for NOT killing this piece of crap!”

He turned to Percy with a sneer. Percy chuckled and spread his arms out.

Percy: “Just doing my job, my magical friend!”

Ilias: “I’d love to stick around and chat, but I have to fly out to Pineapple State to be present for Vasilos’ wedding to Andrew.”

He waved his hand.

Ilias: “You can show yourselves out, or I can play the high-frequency sound over the speakers and my soldiers can kill you all.”

He spat.

Tristan: “Let’s go.”

He nodded to Celeste, Jaxon, and Deimos.

Jaxon: “Yeah, man, I don’t wanna be here.”

Percy smirked.

Percy: “Adieu, Ilias. Until next time.”

He blew a kiss.

Ilias: “Pray we never cross paths again, you vermin!”

He said venomously.

~

Celeste, Jaxon, Tristan, and Deimos were at Jaxon and Celeste’s place. After he showered and got cleaned up, he came out in his dragon robe and told them what happened between him and Dr. Minerva Marzilli. Tristan cupped his chin.

Tristan: “So there is a name for people like us… and the name for our powers.”

Jaxon nodded and lit up a cigarette. Celeste rested her head on his chest, caressing it. He inhaled a long drag.

Jaxon: “Yep, I was tickled for hours by that crazy bitch and found that out.”

He said bitterly.

Tristan: “My apologies that you had to endure that.”

He sighed. Jaxon shuddered and shivered.

Jaxon: “Well, I had my green queen to come to my rescue!”

He smiled down at her. Celeste grinned at him and kissed his neck. Jaxon laughed a bit.

Deimos folded his hands and looked away.

Tristan: “What’s wrong, Deimos? Do you know Ilias?”

He asked tenderly as he brushed his fingers against his cheek. Deimos smiled at Tristan’s touch. He drew a breath and nodded.

Deimos: “Yeah… He’s my uncle.”

They all turned to him, surprised.

Jaxon: “Gee, sorry, man. Tristan and I aren’t the only ones dealing with shitty family members.”

He laughed humorlessly. Deimos inhaled sharply.

Deimos: “Ilias isn’t related to me by blood; he was married to my aunt or my mother’s sister. Her name was Evangelia. She died fourteen years ago. They had one son, Vasilos.”

Tristan rubbed Deimos’ back as he struggled to tell them this.

Celeste: “Did you ever meet your cousin?”

Deimos nodded.

Deimos: “Yeah, Lazaros and I met him when we were eight. We haven’t seen each other since. Ilias said he had to be present for his wedding to some man, and we weren’t invited, so.”

He shrugged.

Deimos: “Tells you everything about this family, doesn’t it?”

He laughed bitterly. Tristan twisted his mouth.

Tristan: “I believe everyone in this room has a strained relationship with their family.”

He shifted his eyes. Jaxon bowed his head.

Jaxon: “Yeah…”

Celeste rested her head on Jaxon’s chest, listening to his heartbeat. Jaxon put his arm over her and kissed her head.

~

Minerva stood in her room with her robe open, exposing her sheer, lacy underwear. Alfie stood before her, red-faced and trembling, as he explained the casualties and what had happened. Minerva waved her hand dismissively.

Minerva: “It’s just a minor setback. I figured this would happen. It’s not like I will give up on him. I just have one less nuisance to deal with now that my fiancé is dead.”

She said nonchalantly. Alfie swallowed the lump in his throat hard.

Alfie: “That’s right, ma’am.”

He quivered.

They heard a thud against the doorframe. Alfie yelped, and he drew back. Minerva’s eyes sparkled to see a svelte black woman standing in her doorway. She had her light purple hair in a mohawk, wore a black business suit with heeled boots, and had large red star earrings in her ears. She lowered her shades.

Woman: “You need my assistance, Doctor?”

Minerva smirked.

Minerva: “Yes… Yes, I do, Desiree.”