Looking down at her  two daughters, Katerina smiled while kissing both their cheeks. They had been through so much in the last few weeks, and she was finally ready to leave them alone. There was a job across the sea at the island of Canelux. It would pay her almost triple than what she normally have got. An escort for a noble who only wanted her. After many years of keeping hidden, she was finally building a name for herself. Standing before her were proof of who she was becoming. Even though they weren’t her blood, they were in her heart and soul. Circling her arms around her children, she hugged them tight. “Right after I leave you, go back to the cottage.” Katerina urged while moving a loose strand of hair behind Eden’s ear.

“Mom… We know.” Eden wasn’t one to hold back and was teaching her sister the same.
“Mom, will you be okay, since you're pregnant?” Kiyomi said as her hand touched her mom’s belly. Katerina looked as if she was almost four months pregnant. Katerina smiled while laying her hand on her daughter’s. “We will be just fine. I will just be escorting someone. Not even in dangerous territory.” The wolf demon said trying to calm her daughter. The eldest, Eden, just nodded. “Alexander.” Katerina looked over Kiyomi’s shoulder to the large tiger behind her. “Keep them safe and make sure they go back to the cottage. No detours.…” The  large cat nodded in response.

The sound of large flapping wings made the four of them look up. A winged lion came flying down to them and landed right next to Eden. Standing at seven feet tall, the lion made heads turn, even a scream left a woman near by the group. “Are you sure you don’t need me, Silverstein?” The lion asked his companion, still uneasy about leaving her alone. “Sultan, I will be just fine, please just stay with my children?” Katerina asked as she brought up her hand to run over the lion’s forehead. “Alright, I shall miss you.” He said while lowering his head to her. “Me too.. I will miss all of you.” She said while moving back to her daughters to hug them. “Mooommm..” Eden whined as she was hugged once more. “We are not children..” Pulling back from her girls, she looked at both of them. “Oh that is right, you are teenagers….” Katerina said with a laugh. They both nodded in unison at her words. “You are both growing up so fast…” She thought as her eyes looked from one daughter to the other.

“Casting offf!” The wolf demon heard the Captain yell behind her, she was late boarding.“Okay.. Bye! I love you, both!” She called to them while running up the ramp to the ship. Two men from the crew grabbed the ramp as soon as the wolf demon’s feet hit the deck. Turning around quickly, she made her way to the railing, and waved to her family. Her heart ached already and she wasn’t even gone yet.  

The new addition, Eden, stared up at her mother and waved back. Her emotions mixed, she didn’t want her mother to go because she was scared, but at the same time she wasn’t. She had got used to animals, and her new step mom protecting her. “By… Mom!” The wolf called out as she waved. She had just started to call Katerina, Mom, and it felt great being. It had only been a few weeks since they met, but she had grown to be an important part in her life. A smile lined her lips while watching her mother sail away.

With Eden nightmare’s slowly going away, Katerina felt that it was okay to leave her. Eden had been glued to her side for the last three weeks. The nightmare’s had gone from every night, to none at all, at the moment. She took the opportunity to go do a job. The wolf demon had to for them, she was running low on money for her girls. With one last wave, the ship jerked as the wind grabbed the sail. “Goodbye..” She whispered with the wind. Her eyes stayed on the girls until they were no longer in site.

---

Three days later…..

Leaning over the railing of the ship, the wolf demon wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Another breakfast was now in the sea. She had never felt sea sick in her life, but the child growing inside her was changing that. Most of the food she ate came up. She couldn’t wait to be off of this boat. Her morning sickness had just started to go away, until they started to sail.

A sigh left Katerina’s lips as she leaned her head against the wood. Her dark hair fell around her like a curtain, hiding the world outside. Her eyes closed for a moment while she took a few deep breaths. Opening her eyes she looked at her belly. Her pants that she usually wore just stopped fitting her. She was stuck with wearing a black skirt that was loose along the waist. It had been a long while since she stepped into anything that opened her legs to the world. She liked them covered, but with the belly she was starting to have wouldn’t let her wear them. Her black boots were still the same, only covered at the knee by the dress. Her white ruffled top was open a bit more than she liked, the V neck button didn't want to button anymore.

While her thoughts were on her clothing, she didn’t noticed the ship that was sailing near them. “What the hell is that?!” The Captain’s voice carried to her wolf ears. Looking up, her eyes followed the Captain’s, and saw the pirate ship heading right to them. “Holy Sh*t..” She whispered before pushing off the railing, and running up the steps to the Captain. His hands rested on the wheel while his eyes looked off into the distance. Her eyes looked back at the ship, finally noticing the black sail. The wolf demon held back a sigh. Would she ever get rid of these people. “Pirates.” Katerina said aloud. The Captain gasped at her words. It took him a moment to realize what was happening. “Captain! Pirates!” The wolf demon yelled at him. As if she knocked some sense into him, the Captain started to yell at his commands to the men. “Get the cannons ready! Drop the all sails!”

“Get down below, Miss. It is not going to be safe up here.” He ordered her as her spun his wheel. Getting the ship in position. “I am staying, just in case they get on board. I am more than just a woman.” The wolf demon’s eyes glowed slightly, making the man jump. A sword appeared in her hand, and she stepped down on the main deck.

The pirates had thought of the same thing. Their boat was turned earlier than theirs. They were the first to light their cannons. Many hit the side of the ship, disarming a few of the cannons. The main mass was also hit. Looking up just in time, the wolf demon eyes widen in surprise. The mass came falling down towards her. In a swift movement, the wolf demon was on the other side of the ship. Curse words flew out of everyone’s mouth in the moment, they were all surprised. The pirates had got them where they wanted them.

With the ship disabled, the pirates were soon upon them. Pirates swung from their ship and landed on the deck of Katerina’s ship. “We’re not here for slaves, boys. Take everything!” One of the pirates spoke up when he landed on the deck. Katerina’s eyes were on him, she needed to take him down. Heading toward him, she was stopped in her path. Another pirate came at her while swinging his sword. With a dodge and a perry, he missed her each time. Rising up her sword, the wolf demon brought it down when he missed her. His scream joined the others as both of his hands tumbled onto the deck. Right after, her sword sliced through his neck. “I hate pirates.” The wolf demon said aloud while walking over the body.

The wolf demon’s eyes searched the ship, then spotted the Captain of the pirates. He was on the stern of the ship attacking their captain. “Damnit..” She cursed as she started to run towards him. Two more pirates suddenly appeared in front of her. “Look at you pretty–” His words were cut off by the sword in his gut. His partner started to attack, but with the speed of the wolf inside her, Katerina pulled the sword out of the man’s gut then sliced off the head of the other pirate.

Reaching the stares, after she killed the two pirates. She cursed at herself. She was too late. The Pirate’s Captain stared down at the dead body of the other Captain. He seemed to hear her walk up the stairs, turning around a grin lined his scarred lip. “Well look what we have here. A pregnant warrior… What are you going to do with that? Get you and your baby killed?” A laugh left his lips after he spoke.

Anger rose inside the wolf demon, he would die at her hands. Holding up her sword, she ran at him. Their swords connected with each strike. Soon, she was pushed up against the railing, their swords in between them. “Well… Well.. Well.. You are the niece of Black Wolf.” A laugh left his lips, as he pushed away from her. Leaving her leaning on the railing, he looked over her for a moment. “He is going to smile in his grave when I kill you.” The pirate came after her again. Blocking ever hit, suddenly she finally got one. Her sword connected with his right eye. “Ahhh you B***h,” He cursed aloud at her before landing a punch in her face. The force of his hit made the wolf demon stumble back and fall over the railing.

Hitting the water with a splash, she took this opportunity to swim to the back of the boat. As soon as the Pirate Captain looked over the ship's railing, she was no longer there. “Haha. Stupid C**t….. Burn it down!” She heard him yell.  Cheers echoed through the skies and there were no longer screams. Tears welled up in the wolf demon’s eyes. No screams meant everyone was dead. She should've protected the people of the ship.

Katerina’s thoughts were soon pushed away as the smell of smoke hit her nose. Her body soon rose up with a small wave it was caused by the pirate ship. They were leaving. “Good…” She whispered while swimming back to the place she fell to look up towards the ship. There was no way she was going to put out the flames. “Damnit…” She cursed while spitting out ocean water. She would die if she floated in the sea, her eyes looked up at the small boat that hung on the side of the ship. She needed that. Holding out her hand, ice shards shot out and cut the rope that held them. A moment later and she was in the boat floating away from the burning ship. Her eyes watched the flames as she floated away. Her mind going to her children. She needed to get back to them. “F**k this job. I am going to get home to them…” She vowed aloud. She was not going to die out at sea. Grabbing onto the paddles, Katerina started to row.

---

Katerina’s bright blue eyes stared at the setting sun. It had been a day and a half since the ship she was on was sunk by pirates. Her stomach was hungry. She could last a few days without food or water, while not being pregnant. She needed food now. Her hand laid over her stomach as she laid back down on in the boat. She was tired and dehydrated. Not a good mix for a pregnant lady.

While contemplating on what she should do. Large structures appeared from each side of the boat. Sitting up quickly, she gasped. It was a large castle that floated on the sea. The area she just pass through was an archway. A smile curved on her lips, she was going to be okay. She would be home to her daughters in no time.

As soon as she reached for her paddle, a arrow shot into it right next to her hand. Her eyes looked up quickly. It was the pirate ship from before. Licking her chapped lips she ripped the arrow from the paddle and headed towards the docks. Hopefully she could hide out here. Right when she reached the docks, her eyes turned to look at the pirate ship coming closer. She was too weak to fight them, she felt like she would fall over at any moment. Her eyes widened at the arrows that flew threw the sky, lit with fire. “Shit.. He sure wants me dead.” Katerina said aloud to herself as she watched the arrows fly through the sky heading towards her.

As the lay person might expect, simply calling yourself the Queen of the Pirates does not automatically make your title a reality. Skadi struggled a lot with this dilemma during the opening months of Starlit Manor. It took several investments to get the place up and running, and she was waylaid constantly even before she started turning a profit. Unaffiliated pirates made regular incursions into Ms. Night's domain, as a result, threatening to take it for themselves along with anything it contained; and, like most of their kind, they wouldn't take no for an answer unless it was backed by the sword.
 
When she first started out dealing with these ruffians, Skadi played relatively nice. She didn't quite have the authority to put her self-acclaimed title into practice just yet, and so she tried to convince any and all attackers to leave her alone after beating their ships to a pulp. Once she got her title as Lady Luck, however, the length of her mercy ran short. All sailors in the Nyella Ocean were made well aware of the authority of Starlit Manor at that point, and their crews were given a dire warning. If such a time came that a foreign vessel, military or otherwise, tried to cause trouble for the island, the entire sea would turn against that vessel and its crew. Creature and brine alike would smash them upon the rocks, and drag the survivors down into the depths. The pirates that gave chase to Katerina after her shipwreck were no exception to this rule. In fact, they were but a common, everyday occurrence for the deity; because, where there's a Queen of the Pirates, everyone wants to be the King.
 

---

 
After the wolf demon entered through the manor's eastern passage, the pirates that had sunken her ship appeared on the horizon. One arrow got through from them before the gates were closed behind Katerina's dingy, and the fire arrows that came afterward were extinguished by the surf smashing against the stone. Nothing in that perimeter could hold a spark, given how damp the materials were, and so no fire caught effect despite the blazing oil. This fact did not deter the assaulting captain, but probably came as a sharp relief for the pregnant castaway. She was safe behind those walls, at least for the moment.
 
As for Mr. Percy, the humorously named pirate captain in the distance, he was in more trouble than he yet realized. His men were scrambling to get their bearings back when the gates barred their progress, and they bided their time by prepping the arcane cannons their captain had managed to acquire through the black market. These weapons were older models that took great effort to prepare, but were still very powerful. The crew hadn't fully gotten them ready again since their last time firing on Silverstein's vessel, but they were just about finished with repairs now. The finishing touches wouldn't take long, especially since the captain was whipping his men into a frenzy of bloodlust. With his anger so focused, he hardly noticed that there was now an additional member among his men.
 
"Give chase, men," he shouted! "Send her down to see Ki's ghost!" The other men didn't seem to notice the last minute addition either, likely distracted by their captain's shouting as well as the manor in the distance.
 
"Oy, it's that upstart's home," one swabbie responded in the heat of the moment. "Calls herself Queen of the Pirates, she does."
 
"Queen? I'm the only monarch out here! Blast through those gates, and bring this woman to me! I'll show her what it means to be a queen."
 
The stranger was the first to answer this lewd call to action. 'He' enthusiastically grabbed a bow and fire arrow out of the hands of a nearby a nearby sailor and then cocked it like a professional before aiming directly at the captain's head.
 
"Aye, aye, sir," exclaimed the stranger in a feminine voice, simultaneously loosing the arrow into the captain's cabin! Percy dodged at the last minute, then turned back to see his belongings being consumed by flames. He turned his gaze squarely on the newcomer now, realizing there was nothing he could do to salvage his things and also that he didn't recognize the culprit archer.
 
"What in the hells are ye doing, foolish swab?!" He blustered and strut about, trying to make himself seem taller than he actually was. It was then that the 'swab' revealed her true identity as Lady Luck. Looking at the soon to be deceased captain, she tipped her fedora to reveal her green eyes, and then confidently spoke in her normal, cheeky voice.
 
"Oh, didn't you mean burn this ship to the ground? My bad!" The cutlasses came out rather predictably, each one pointed at Skadi with the full intent of use behind them. She showed no sign of backing down, however, and merely continued her address."By the way, a little, scaly bird tells me you boys have been naughty. Apparently, your late friend met him once, and he'd like to say hello to you too!"

Jack descended on cue at that exact moment, giving his customary, "Top o' the mornin' to ya laddies," before wreaking absolute destruction. His girth snapped the deck in two, causing the ship to buckle shortly before he swallowed the captain whole. Skadi herself vanished in the chaos, leaving the boreal dragon to play with the arrogant and foolish sailors that had dared to attack her temple. They would likely all perish, though Lady Luck would also be nowhere near them during the entire ordeal. In fact, she had already begun swimming back to the docks by the time the crew realized what hit them. She melded with the water to slip under the gate that was still closed once she got there and then surfaced next to Katerina's dingy before adjusting her clothing.
 
"How do," Skadi asked the pregnant woman while stepping up a wooden stairway from the depths onto the pier? She took one look at Katerina once she was fully above water, and then made her way past the woman to fetch a panther like man. He was the dock manager of the Eastern Gate: a male, feline anthropoid by the name of Ricardo. "Ricardo," she said upon returning with that gentleman in tow, "see to it that the castaway is given free docking and board in the manor until I say otherwise. Also, please take her down to my quarters after she has some food and drink at one of the local inns: on my tab, of course."
 
The Lady of the Cards disappeared after giving those orders, somehow magically drying herself during her leisurely saunter into the heart of the temple. Ricardo's affirmed those command with a grunt before she was out of earshot, and then turned his attention to Katerina. He promptly fetched a canteen of fresh water for the pregnant wolf, allowing her to drink while he gave a proper introduction.
 

"I am Ricardo," he said with a twitch of his tail and a slight bow, "a humble manager at these docks. I welcome you to The Starlit Manor. Follow me and I will see to it that your needs are taken care of."

Moving her ship further into the manor, she paddled as fast as she could. The arrows had just missed her. Looking over her shoulder again at the ship. She saw the small flames lit. “Shit…” She cursed. Instead of the flames being released, the ship that wanted her dead caught on fire. The wolf demon’s eyes widened in dismay. “Dumb Asses.” She said with a smile. They must have dropped one of the arrows on the ship.

A dragon soon appeared in the sky, and a smirk lined her face. She had luck on her side that day or someone was looking out for her.  Her eyes watched as the gates shut behind her before turning back around,then grabbing onto the paddles one last time she herself to the nearest dock. As her small boat hit the side of the wooden dock, her eyes finally took in the beauty around her. A smile lined her lips, she couldn’t help it. Standing from her spot on the boat, she turned as she looked at the tall structures around her. The small lights that lit up the area were her favorite. They were unlike any she had ever seen. She was only used to small candle lights or the occasional fireball she could muster.

A sudden voice beside her made her jump slightly. Katerina looked to see a woman coming up the steps from the water. Stepping onto the dock, the wolf demon looked over the newcomer, there was something familiar in the way she moved. Pushing her thoughts away, she was about to ask the woman who she was. The woman moved passed her to a catlike man, gave orders, then soon disappeared without another glance at the wolf demon. Katerina wasn’t able to say a word and held back a sigh. “She must run this place…” She thought to herself before smiling to the man before her. “Hello, Ricardo. My name is Katerina Silverstein.” She introduced herself with a kind smile. “Thank you for your hospitality,” being pregnant had its perks.  With a slight bow of her own, she glanced around at the manor once more.

“Starlit Manor…” The wolf demon repeated the name.. “I had a feeling this was it… I have only heard about the Goddess and her Temple.” She finished as she followed the catlike man. “Never even been to a god's or goddess temple before…” She thought to herself while she began to follow the dock worker. “Always tried to stay clear… Now here you are in a god’s temple. Why did it have to be here?” Mentally sighing, she new gods always wanted something if they give anything.

"For those of us who work here, we just call her Owner. That was her you just saw, though I must admit I've never seen her fighting in action. She and Sir Jack took down that entire pirate ship rather readily." Ricardo said with his back to her, as he led her through the docks. Katerina stared down at the tail that wagged with every step he took then moved up to his ears. “I thought I recognized that dragon… Is Natsumi here?” She asked as she looked at the large glass windows as she entered the manor. “Who? I do not recognize this name.” At his words, the wolf demon frowned. She missed her dear friend that she had gone through so much with. With a sigh, “Oh alright, nevermind then.” She said then remained silent as she took in the wonders of the Manor. Her eyes looked at ever glass window to every decor item. The dock worker didn’t seem like he wanted to speak.

It wasn’t long before they reached one of the Inns of the Manor. Her eyes froze on the window, the sky had disappeared to reveal the reef below. Fishes of all sorts swam besides the windows and around the reef. The colorful beauty of the sea always amazed her. This temple of the Goddess of Luck was pretty amazing in all ways so far. It was almost like if you come to this temple, “You will never want to leave…” She thought to herself before she hurried to catch up with the dock worker.

Ricardo was standing besides a lady in an apron. Walking up to the two, Katerina eyes looked at the bright smile on the waitress lips.  ”What can I get for you, Miss?” The wolf demon’s eyes caught the woman look her up and down. “I must look like hell….” She thought to herself before she answered, “Chicken and potatoes, oh and some bread and cheese on the side with some water, please.”  The waitress nodded at Katerina’s request. “Also no onions on the potatoes, please. Thank you.” She said almost forgetting some places added onions. Before the waitress turned to leave, Ricardo spoke to her. When he finished he waved his hand towards the wolf to follow.

As they entered another set of doors, she couldn’t help but stop. Her eyes noticed the women there, they were beautiful. Then her eyes went to the windows again, it was almost mesmerizing. “Miss.” Ricardo had called for her while standing besides a small sitting area, holding his hand out towards the couch.  Walking over to him, she took a seat on the love-seat. “Thank you…” She said once more. The fireplace seemed to be lit but no smoke rose from it, but the heat was welcoming. With a nod to her, Ricardo walked away. Taking that free moment, she leaned back against the pillows of the couch. A sigh left her lips as she relaxed on the cloud. The movement in her belly reminded her that she needed to eat. Laying her hand on her stomach, she felt the movement of the child under her skin.

Flashes of the monster went through her mind. The memories of that event needed to be forgotten. With her child on the way, she didn't want to think of the monster that raped her. The child deserved a loving mother who didn't think of the past. "She is a gift, not a curse." The wolf demon thought as she closed her eyes. The child inside her moved again and the wolf demon couldn't help but think of what she looked like. More like her, or more like the monster.

Somewhere deep in her mind a voice spoke, “And yet you still think of her as a curse, and you can't seem to escape that feeling.” A gasp left her lips as she sat up. How could a mother think such things….?

Though Katerina might have viewed herself as something special for having been invited into Lady Luck's audience room so readily, she was but one of a pair. Her counterpart was just arriving on the docks by the time she sat down at the dinner table. The woman who disembarked, another who was also heavily pregnant, was a native Hiafae of Itjivut: a former elven mercenary who had long been down on her luck. Her name was Sylvia Winterheart.
 
Yes, that's right: she was the same Sylvia that had fallen prey to Nami's machinations alongside Ms. Silverstein. It had been quite some time since two of them last spoke, but, unlike Katerina, Sylvia's life since then had been far less kind. With her pregnant body and limited knowledge of magic, she hadn't been able to find work after the rape. Her mercenary contacts dried up, and she had to sell most of what she owned just to survive. Her life was actually looking very bleak, in truth, until a small, gilded letter found its way into her possession.
 
That letter was an invitation to Starlit Manor. Skadi had sent it to Sylvia for the express purpose of setting up a meeting with the ice elf. It promised free passage and a lucrative offer if she accepted. Seeing little alternative, Sylvia took that invitation and hopped on the next ship out of Adeluna.
 
As it so happened, Katerina also received a letter like this – or would have had the pirate ship not derailed her course. Luck tended to be a funny force, though, and so both women somehow managed make it to the manor despite their difference in route.  It was only a matter of time before Skadi herself showed up as well, but, first, there was some catching up to do.
 

"Didn't think I'd see you again." The words came from behind Katerina as a pregnant Sylvia entered the room and came closer to the table. She waddled over to her seat, accompanied by a cat man different from Ricardo. This new feline, Raphael, helped Sylvia into her seat, and departed before a scantily clad woman brought water and cheese bread for her guests. That waitress departed almost immediately with nothing but a small, silent curtsey, thereby allowing Sylvia and Katerina some privacy before their host arrived. Sylvia wasted no time in that space, and continued with her earlier greeting after scarfing down three of the biscuits like a ravenous beast. "Your stomach is about as big as mine now, too. I doubt it's a coincidence that we're meeting again when it's almost time for the babies to be born, or that it's a rich person inviting us here."

Katerina’s mind soon cleared as she stared out the window across the room. The colorful fishes seem to capture her. She had never seen the sea this way. The castle entered the sea instead of floating on the sea. The room she was in was deep down in the ocean and the fishes seem to be more brighter and more beautiful, not like the ones at the beach, she could barely see. A small smile curved on her lips, as she watched them swim before the window. Her worries seemed to fade away.

A sudden voice behind her made her turn around. Watching the woman until she sat down, her eyes went to her belly then her face. It had been a long time since she had seen this woman. They were both rapped on the same night, but she was far bigger than Katerina. She looked like she was almost due. The wolf demon’s eyes went back to her belly then to Sylvia again. Why didn’t she look as big as her? It must have been because she was thinner than she was. They were both due at the same time. Which wasn’t much time at all. She forced herself not to frown at the thought. She didn’t have much time to think of the future; about the baby.

Sighing inward, the wolf demon manage a small smile toward Sylvia. “Why is she here? The same time as I?” Kat thought, her mind warning her of something was up. The woman voiced what she had been thinking. “It has only been a few weeks since we seen each other, but it seems like a very long time.” She said with a pause as her eyes spotted the water and bread. Reaching out, she grabbed a biscuit, and she started to eat it. The taste of the bread made the wolf demon sigh. It tasted so good. She couldn’t wait for her food to arrive. “Something is up, I am sure of that now.” She voiced while picking up the water to take a sip of her water. Was her ship destroyed on purpose or was it just coincidence?

Katerina almost laughed at what the newcomer just said. She thought it was just a rich person. How little she knew of the world. “A Rich person? I wonder if it was the Goddess of Luck. She resides here.” Pausing she back looked at Sylvia while eating her bread. “Why are you here exactly?” She asked, wondering why they were there at the same time. Her ship was burned into the sea, but why had Sylvia come? What did the Goddess or this rich person want from her? From them? There were many questions that needed answering.

People with means often forget how difficult a life can be when a single thing goes wrong. If you're rich or have a support network, a divorce may not be so bad for you. Yes, your heart may be broken, but you won't go hungry or without shelter like a poorer soul would. The same can be said for other life-changing events: especially children.
 
As I described earlier, Sylvia's pregnancy had prevented her from working. Her swollen abdomen made balance difficult at best, and her lack of magical knowhow meant she didn't have an alternative means of making money. That situation would have been fine if she had had someone looking after her, but she didn't. Sylvia was without a support network, especially since her line of work was not conducive to friendships. She had been a mercenary all her life and that meant she had crossed just as many if not more people than she had befriended. There was no one she could lean on now that she was in crisis, and no job that her pride would allow her to take.
 
That wasn't all her woes, either. The ice elf was also already low on funds by the time Skadi impregnated her. She had taken the job in Virens only to replenish her dwindling bank balance, hoping that the drought of the last few months could be stayed with a single job. We all know how that went, though. Sylvia didn't get any silver from the job, and, instead, got a child for her trouble. It was a terrible situation: one Katerina had not had to endure thanks to her magical skills. As one might imagine, that made the elf quite bitter when her wolf counterpart acted nonchalantly about the whole issue.
 

"It's been a longer time for some of us, wolfie," Sylvia said between mouthfuls of cheese bread. "You have magic to aid your survival, whereas I do not. I've lost everything I own just to survive in that 'just a few months' that you mention. Can't work so I can't get money, and can't get money so I can't pay rent." The elf's mood was somewhere between displeased and irritated, but with less intensity than normal thanks to her voracious appetite. Given the speed of consumption, you couldn't tell which of the two women had actually gone without food for the past three days, but that didn't stop Sylvia from speaking her mind. "I'm here by invitation of the owner of this place. Deity or not, she is not wanting. Only a naive person would think it's mere coincidence that a wealthy person saw fit to invite a pregnant woman like me. I'm nothing but a common mercenary, far too low on the rung for someone this well off to bother with unless she wanted something."

Although it wasn't yet a fight between Katerina and Sylvia, the tension in the audience chamber was clearly rising. The snippiness of the latter did not go unheard – nor did the dismissive comments of the former – and it wasn't long after they spoke that Skadi decided to intervene. She appeared from the backroom mere seconds after Sylvia had begun gorging herself, and then moved toward her guests while dressed in nobleman's garb. All the other women in the room retreated to the rear chambers upon her arrival, leaving her to a private dinner with her elf and the wolf.
 
"Now, now, ladies. No fighting." The goddess's words weren't condescending in practice, but were definitely a change in tone from the moments prior. The dinner, it seemed, was an example of a case where Skadi's perpetual mask came off. As she approached the table with calm stride, she was, for once in her life, strictly business. "Sylvia is correct, Miss Katerina," Skadi continued while sitting down across from her guests.  "I invited you both here. You just didn't receive the invitation because you were waylaid by pirates: which, just so we're clear, I didn't ask for."
 
A teenage girl no older than 18 passed by the table at this point. She had black hair and blue eyes, resembling a younger version of Katerina's most recent adoptee. The girl, who was clad in a very revealing  outfit, was, in fact, Eden Silverstein's younger sister: the same one who had gone missing during Nami's infamous attack. She was the waitress for the evening in the audience chamber, bringing food to Skadi's guests via an ornate cart. Her sensual stride brought her close to the table, where she set down silver platters containing the dinners of all present. She was about to depart after that delivery, giving a curtsey to take her leave, but Skadi's arm leapt out to pull her in before she could escape.
 
"Thank you, Liza," the goddess said while pulling the girl down. She forced Liza to lie in her lap, but not before French kissing her on the lips. "You've worked enough tonight, girl. You should get some rest." Dinner got understandably awkward after that point. The waitress didn't mind and snuggled straight into Skadi as if the embrace had been a natural occurrence, but Sylvia was visibly distraught while trying to maintain her composure in the face of such publicly displayed lust. Her eyebrows arched, and her jaw tensed. She was unnerved, and decided to speak up to dispel the silence before it got more awkward.

"Are you going to tell us why we're here," the elf asked? "Not that I'm complaining about the free food, but I'd like to know what's going on before I accept something so generous." Her words seemed to jog the attention of the lecherous deity, and so Skadi pressed on without touching her food.
 

"Understandable. I'll cut to the chase then." Mrs. Night's hand fell to her attendant's head, caressing it as she continued with an eye directly on the pregnant stomachs in front of her. "You both have something I want. It is rather unfortunate that I lost myself in trying to prevent one rape to the point that I allowed another to happen on my behalf, but such is life. The fact that the children are part mine, thankfully, means I can decide how I go about retrieving them. Therefore, in the interest of ensuring a smooth exchange, I have invited the both of you into a private setting to give you a choice." Pausing, Skadi removed her hand from the girl's head then rested it on the table after said girl fell asleep. "One, you may choose to give me our daughter in exchange for one time, worldly favors. Two, you can join my harem, be provided for for the rest of eternity and still get to visit your daughter on a daily basis. You can't have both, and, either way you choose, the children will be mine after they are born." 

Hearing the wolfie, the elemental almost rolled her eyes, but ended up holding it back. She had been called worse. Looking over the woman, she wished she could help aide her, but she couldn’t. She was barely keeping her and her children above the water. Thinking of her daughter's made her heart ache. She wanted to see them dearly. After almost dying, not seeing the ones you like makes you want to see immediately, but she needed her strength. Leaning back on the couch, the wolf demon ate her cheese bread. Cheese has always been her favorite, the second to steak. Her mouth wanted to drool at the thought, but kept her mind in the situation before her.

Katerina stayed quiet for a moment, taking in the words of the elf before her. “What are you thinking she will ask of you? Maybe she wants to kill you and take your kid.” She joked a bit with the elf, wondering if she really thought of the invite. But she was still slightly annoyed for her calling her wolfie.

The sudden voice made the wolf demon look to see who was speaking. The Goddess, she was as beautiful as everyone said. “It’s the blonde hair.” Katerina thought watching her make her way to them. Her voice was smooth as silk as she spoke to her. “An invite?” She thought to herself. If the pirate ship didn’t attack she would of got the invite, and probably tore it apart.With a mental sigh, she stayed quiet, not wanting to speak yet. She wanted to hear what this woman had to say.

Seeing the appearance of a young girl come to the table, made her eyes widen a bit. She looked so much like her daughter, Eden. She didn’t even noticed the food that was placed before her, she couldn’t take her eyes off the girl. She was soon pulled onto the Goddess’ lap and kissed. That was when she finally looked away. It was like she kissing her daughter. She couldn’t look. Pulling off a bit of chicken, she through it in her mouth. It was so delicious.

The elf was the first to speak, making Katerina stop eating to look at the woman before them. She was right. What did this Goddess want? Why did she want them there? Hopefully they would find out soon.

Anger grew inside her, this woman was the one who rapped her. Her eyes narrowed as she listened. She wanted to get up and walk away but somehow she stayed still. Maybe it was because it was an accident. Flashes of the monster flashed inside her mind. She couldn’t fault this woman for the rape. But the offer she made angered her. She would not let her have her daughter.

Looking into the woman’s eyes, she voiced sternly, “No f**king way.” She would not sell her daughter to anyone, she was part of her. She lived inside her. Her hands covered her stomach as she looked down to her unborn child then back the the Goddess. “There is no way I will let you have my child.”