They arrived home on a ship. It had been decorated with flowers and what, not for their arrival home. They had taken the time to travel Parvpora for their honeymoon.  When the ship ported and they came down the ramp. There was a whole crowd of people waiting for them to get off the ship and immediately Kirika blushed and snuggled into Bryar’s warm chest. “It’s good to be home but there are so many people I think I might pop.” A worried whisper left her lips as her blue eyes looked up at him.

Angela pushed the people aside. “Come on, you were all told how the girl is. Move it, move it. You can give congratulations later!” She came over to put her arms around the newlyweds. “You’ll have to forgive this but we’ll need you at Black Court Manor. We haven’t done anything with it… Still bodies and what not everywhere. Most people consider it a curse even to go in. I think if you two did that things will start to get done. We can change things as you call them, though.”

Kirika looked ill for a moment as she brought up her sleeve, tho long and bellowing, to cover her face just a bit. “I don’t know how I feel about bodies, Aunt Angela.”

“I think I would feel the same way. If I tried to clear it I would level the whole house. I think though that this is a good first challenge for you two. Think of it this way… The bodies are merely skeletons now. It was much more gruesome in its heyday.” That thought relaxed Kirika as she looked up to Bryar.

“Home sweet home I suppose…” The two were lead up a wilting road that needed a lot of work. The manor that would be their home was falling apart and needed a lot of love. Even the stonework that had been done was slowing crumbling away from the abuse of its past mistress. “So this is it? I’ve never been here.”

“For good reason Dearest. This place smells of my sister. We could build the entire thing again or you can just tell me if you want to restore all the wood and stone. That is up to you both, though. I suggest taking a look at it first. A lot of bad memories are in that place.” Angela pat Kirika on the head.

Bryar wrapped an arm protectively around Kirika as they disembarked the vessel, holding her close to him.  He could tell that the vast number of people present before them set her at disease, and it was his mission to keep her safe and protected.  “There are quite a few,” he said, chuckling slightly.  He drew her in a bit closer and kissed her on the top of her head, before meeting her eyes with his own.  “It will be okay, love,” he said, squeezing her slightly as a show of solidarity.  

He could not help but to grin as he caught sight of Angela approaching them, shoving the spectators out of the way.  He smiled warmly at her as she approached them, her motherly arms wrapping around the two.  Listening intently, his smile faded as Angela began describing to them the dark state of Black Court Manor - and thinking of how much work they were going to have to do.  He almost chuckled at Kirika as she covered her face, but held it in, choosing rather to address the Triune goddess instead.  “We will enter, then,” he said firmly.  “But if I may be so bold as to ask… bodies?  I’m guessing there’s quite a bit of backstory that I haven’t been let in on just yet,” he said, raising an eyebrow.  He gave Angela a look that suggested he would like to be filled in later, but now was not the time as it would most likely upset Kirika.  

“We will clean it up, love,” he said reassuringly, drawing Kirika tightly against his body once more.  “We will scour the place floor to ceiling, and we will make it ours,” he said.  “Black Court Manor will be known as a shining beacon in Sularia, far from what it once was.”  He was convinced that the two of them would be able to make it a glorious place - even if it was going to take a lot of work.  “I’m fairly decent with stonework, too… I can get some work on it.”

He unwrapped his arm from around Kirika and gestured towards their destination, assuming that Angela would be joining them as well.  “M’ladies?” he said, offering the pair to take the lead.  He would, of course, offer to enter the building first when they arrived to ensure its safety, but he was not of the most knowledge on how to get to their destination.  “I would suggest we survey the manor before we make any decisions.”.

Angela nodded to Bryar. “Things to discuss later my Loves.” Kirika gave a bit of a determined look as she thought about what this could mean. She had siblings that had died in that house, but what else lurked within in those walls? It scared her to think about it as she walked with Angela and Bryar.

Kirika lovingly snuggled into Bryar as he reassured her that they would indeed fix it up. “I know we are. I want it to be a beacon that we can change. This isn’t my mother’s house anymore, it is mine… ours.” She was quick to correct herself as she smiled up at her now husband. It was still weird to think that they were married and had been for a while now.

Angela gave a soft smile as she unlocked the chains to the manor and watched them hit the ground. Opening the doors it was the smell that would first hit them. “Let’s get rid of that.” With a snap of her fingers, the manor smelled so much better. “There roses all around. Though once I leave it will probably go back to normal. We’ll have to clean up what we can while I’m here..” Angela offered a sad smile as they walked what had been a grand entry. 

“It looks as if it was beautiful back when it was built.” Kirika squeaked out as she moved inside away from Bryar and looked at some of the bones on the ground. “My mother did this over the years?”

Angela thought on her question. “Yes, she didn’t care who she killed as long as it got her more power. If she could summon a demon using the bodies she would. Bryar asked about the bodies and I wasn’t going to answer while you were here but you deserve to hear it. Cyprus Rose was a mass murderer. As long as she stayed contained we let her do what she wanted. Through the fury and flames, we regret not stopping her. Through her, we got the only heiress, Kirika. It was a little late to save everyone who had died here but we saved you.” 

“What happened to her?” Kirika didn’t hesitate to ask as she peeled some of the wall back that was crumbling.

Angela hesitated. “I killed her for what she did to me.” Kirika stopped and looked back at the aunt who normally held no blood on her hands. “I won’t tell you how so don’t ask. That is my secret Kirika. Just know she got what she deserved. She had killed my son so I killed her.” She was quick to switch topics. “The manor is quite large but up the grand staircase is the master bedroom… It is larger than any of the other rooms and has a washroom attached to it. We can have staff placed in once we get it fixed up of course.”

“We will show the people that there has been change - you are not your mother,” he said, and his words were firm, but loving.  He had, of course, been informed of a great many things about Kirika’s past - in fact, he probably knew more than she thought he did.  He also put emphasis on the word ‘we,’ but not for a selfish reason.  He wanted Kirika to know that they were in this together - he would not make her go through this transition alone.  He was her husband, and this also meant that he needed to be her rock - he needed to be there for her through all things, no matter how difficult.  It was a vow he had not taken lightly, and one he intended to keep for eternity.  

Bryar found himself quite grateful for Angela’s divinity at that moment, more so than he usually did.  While was used to unfriendly scents from his times spent in the wilds, the stench of death that overpowered them when the manor was opened was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.  “That’s… thank you,” he said, directing his gratitude towards Angela.  “That would have made things a bit more difficult, if we had to deal with that from the very start.”  

Bryar looked around at the frame of the building - Kirika was right.  It was quite obvious that the manor had been marvelous in its day, but the years or torture and abuse at the hands of Kirika’s mother had absolutely destroyed the structure’s outer appearance.   He listened carefully to the exchange between Kirika and Angela, as his foot connected with a discarded femur that lay on the ground.  He scrunched his nose up a bit, but did not divert their attention.

Bryar found himself respecting Angela Rose more than he already had as she was so straight forward with Kirika about what had happened to her mother.  Most people would have sugar coated it or tried to place the blame on someone else, but Angela held true to what had happened and knew that nothing would be gained through lying to Kirika about the circumstances of her mother’s demise.  He was, however, grateful that she changed the subject quickly, before Kirika could get too worked up about the situation (even though he was unsure if she would or not).

Bryar held his hand out to Kirika as he took a step towards the large staircase, intent on heading up the stairs to check out the upper levels of rooms.  “Come, my love.  Let us look at what work is ahead of us.  I am sure your aunt will not mind us venturing off on our own into the manor, since it is to be our home?  Perhaps she can work a bit of her magic down here to give us a jump start while we check out other things?”

Angela nodded at them. It was the least she could do in the torment of the stench. She had been death for a while, that scent was never something she got use to. “Think nothing of it, my Dears. I shall work magic and make sure that all the blood and bones are gone so you can focus on the actual problems with this place.” Angela was great at just snapping her fingers and making the bones and blood disappear. She found the varying states of decomposition in the house frightening but she managed to get those as well.

Kirika took Bryar’s arm and walked with him up to the higher levels of the house. The grand staircase was made from a hard very well crafted mahogany. She rubbed the dust off and realized it was actually carved with patterns into it. The levels of dust that had collected on it were filling in the tight spaces. Absentmindedly she began to take her dress of all things and slowly uncover the art piece. “This is done by one of the elves that live here. I’ve seen it in the main castle.” She mused to Bryar. Her blue eyes smiled up at Bryar but she let her dress fall down and she chuckled. “I didn’t mean to use my dress.”

The portraits that lined the walls were thoroughly ruined. They had faces dug out and blood smeared. It made her realize that her mother was so much gone that she even hated herself. “They say, that my mother was the only royal family member to retain the red eyes from the vampire clan that fused their blood to make us.” It was a hushed tone. “That she was doomed from the start. I heard a story once.” She reached up to touch a candle holder that seemed to be made from silver. “That she took her own heart out to take it apart so she could see how it worked. That what fueled her very being was murder.” Her blue eyes looked over at Bryar. “If there ever was a truly evil person in the world, she would be it.”

For a long time, Kirika had wondered if her mother could have been saved but her mind slowly began to damn her over the years. From burying the bodies of those that had lost their lives to her… to finally finding out the truth about her existence. She found a door and cracked it open. It seemed like the only room in the entire house that wasn’t torn apart. Though, as she ran her hands down the door she found etch marks. “There is a ward here.” She mused. “So mother couldn’t get in.” This part of the manor looked grand. The way the bed was set up to the way the balcony doors were done in dark stained glass. The bookshelves were made out of the same dark mahogany as the stairs. This room was largely untouched.

“Who invited you in here?” From the shadows came a woman. “Oh.” She had long tresses of dark hair and bi-colored eyes of gold and red. They stared at both of them. “House is yours now?” She had facial features similar to Kirika but the woman mostly ignored her presence as she came over to the table and grabbed a few things. “This house is cursed. If I were you. I would just burn the bastard down.”

Kirika left Bryar’s side. “Your Lotus. My elder living sister.” The woman stopped in her steps and turned on her heel to look at her. “How can you live in a house like this?”

“I’m used to it. This is the way it was when I was born. This is the way it was when our siblings all died. Murdered.” Lotus looked around and stretched. “As long as that bitch couldn’t get in my room I didn’t care what else she did. I’m shocked the wards are still there. She banished me for attempting to save us all… Got the lot of us killed. Anyways, if you restore the house I’ll live here I suppose. I do need a home.” Lotus looked over Bryar and smiled. “Been a long time since a welcomed male came in.”

Kirika blushed a bit and stared. “Well, you are my sister you are welcome here! I would never turn down my siblings.” Lotus came over and pat the girl on her head.

“That’s how you’re going to get yourself killed. Trust no one, not me, not your brother, not any of us. You have a good heart. I’ve watched you from a distance since you were born. That big loving heart of yours is going to get yourself killed. Word of advice, stay away from Colden. He wants you dead.”

“But why?”

“Because Love, we’re demons its what we do. You also have what he wants and he considers you an obstacle. We’re selfish. Some of us have lost it more than others. You’re the only one with no demon blood, well except Eldora but who know what she is made of. She’ll be a good ally of yours. You can trust her.”

“But you just said.” Lotus put her finger to Kirika’s lips.

“If Eldora wanted you dead. She would do it. She knows every move you make. Every breath you take. Every move you’re going to make. Even if you think you can outsmart her you can’t. She takes payment in knuckles of mages but her visions are never wrong. Being the queen of the Black Court means you are going to have to do things that go against the code. You are the Shadow of Arri now. Do some good with that even if it brings blood. Each Court has their own specialization. Ours? It’s bloody. We kill for a living but it doesn’t have to be bad. Killing someone can turn the tides of war. It can end war. It can begin war. It can bring peace and it can end it. That is your job. They haven’t told you that because you are soft. Harden yourself Kirika. The worst is yet to come.”

“Thank you, Angela,” Bryar said, and gave the goddess a deep nod of respect.  He had learned rather early on in his relationship with Kirika that Rosenites, no matter their social or divine status, did not necessarily prefer being called by royal or noble names such as ‘m’lady’ and the like.  “We truly appreciate your assistance in this matter.  With your help and our own elbow grease, we’ll have the Black Court back to its former glory in no time,” he said, though it was clear that the words were not only to assure Kirika, but himself as well. 

He gladly walked with Kirika as she took his arm, heading higher into the manor.  He took a moment to admire the staircase with her, and could not help but laugh as she began to wipe at the mahogany with her dress.  He raised an eyebrow at her, chuckling as she realized what she had absentmindedly had begun doing.  He raised his hand up and ran it across her cheek lovingly, leaning down to kiss her chastely and quickly.  “You get so excited,” he said, shaking his head a bit as they continued one.

Bryar frowned as he noticed the sad state of the portraits lining the walls.  It seemed as though so many acts of hatred had taken place in the walls - it would be a wonder when the two of them had the place in a condition in which they would want to live in it.  “I am glad that your eyes are such a beautiful shade of blue, love,” he said, trying to lighten the mood after she finished explaining the eyes.  “It is clearly obvious that you did not inherit any of the traits that made her such,” he said, in a very reassuring way.

He tilted his head as Kirika mentioned a ward, and immediately when the woman emerged from the shadows he pulled her to him protectively. He said nothing, seeing how similarly she looked to Kirika - but he kept his guard up. However, he let go of Kirika as she pulled away from him and addressed the woman as her sister - which would make the woman his sister-in-law.  

In the next few minutes, many things became clear to Bryar - one of which, that he had essentially married the Queen of Rosenite Assassins, or something to those terms.  He was unsure how he felt about this, but he knew that Kirika hadn’t asked for any of it - and he would of course be by her side the entire time.  When Lotus finished speaking, he spoke up before anything else could be said.  “Kirika will harden herself, but she will have me - her husband - by her side to do whatever must be done.”

Kirika gave him a smile but if she honestly knew why she was that way she would have asked to claw her own eyes out. The things that were hidden from her thus far were keeping her alive. If she had known the secret of her birth… Well, she would know soon enough. She kissed him gently before they got to the room.

When he pulled her to him, Kirika smiled up at her him and nodded. It would be alright she thought but Lotus let her know that wasn’t always the case. Kirika was still silent from learning her true role. Lotus, on the other hand, was smiling up at Bryar. “Well, I promise you that she will need your help.” Lotus went to collect a few more things.

“What am I?” Kirika spoke up. “Everyone else is half demon. Why am I different?” 

That question stopped Lotus and she turned her head just enough so one of her eyes could look over Kirika. “You aren’t ready for that answer yet. The time will come when I or someone else will tell you. Until then just live your life happily. Have babies, live, do things the rest of us who are fucked up can’t. You are not scarred by Mother. I think that’s why you aren’t liked much.” Lotus filled a bag as she spoke. “Me? I’m going to go party with our brother’s half brother. He has a nice ass.” Lotus winked at Bryar and Kirika blushed. 

“That seems really weird,” Kirika managed a breath before Lotus laughed.

“Easy, it’s not like he’s our brother. Plus some demons really don’t mind messing around with their siblings. I promise you that’s not the case here. Dante is just really nice to look at.” Kirika was confused by Lotus but she began to cling to Bryar. Lotus shook her head. “Monogamy isn’t for everyone. I find it boring. Well, I’ll be back. Please stay away from Colden. I would rather not have to stop seeing Dante because Colden gets stupid and attacks you.” Kirika was blushing now as Lotus took off.

“I think I am glad I’m not a half demon. I can’t imagine being with more than one man.” Her eyes stared up at Bryar for a moment. She was really different compared to her siblings now that she had actually met one. She held his arm as they finally left Lotus’s room and they made it down to the master bedroom. The room itself was all torn apart. The bed was broken and the balcony doors were smashed. There was blood everywhere but the bodies had been removed. “This looks terrible? But we could fix it up…” Trying to get her mind off of the conversation with Lotus.

She stepped into the center of the room before she jumped out of the way of the chandelier falling down.  She made a noise of shock before taking another deep breath. “We have a lot of work to do..”

Bryar gave Lotus a rather disapproving glance.  He did not care for her, even though he had just made her acquaintance for the first time, though he could not quite put his finger on why.  He watched her with pursed lips as she answered Kirika, though her answer seemed to not be good enough.  It did not bode well for the two of them that there was something different about Kirika that Lotus knew but would not share with them.

He scoffed as she made what was essentially a comment about hooking up with her ‘brother’s half brother’, pulling Kirika close to him once more as she moved to him.  He said nothing, but it was clear that he did not approve of the way that Lotus spoke or conducted herself.  The name Colden sounded familiar to him, setting off some sort of alarm from when he had spoken with Lily when he had first been tasked with protecting Kirika.  “I think I am glad you are not a half-demon, either, because I would not want to share you with another man,” he said, pulling her to him as she looked up at him, and crashing his lips into her own before heading off.  After his comment, he remained silent, and was grateful when they walked away from the scene and moved to where the master bedroom was, though he kept the conversation fresh in his mind, to be safe.

“We will make this better than it has ever been,” he said, looking around at the bloodstains.  “It will take some work, but we can get those stains out.  Angela can bless the manor, to get the bad memories out,” he said, his voice trailing off as he watched Kirika move to the center of the room.  As the chandelier fell and she managed to dodge it, he moved to her with non-human reflexes… a bit of his bear-side coming out.  He held her close, the animal within him raising his body temperature.  His eyes had turned the golden hue that they attained when he shifted, and his heart raced.  He was on the verge of shifting, from his protective instincts kicking in, but he was managing to hold it back rather easily.

However, one side effect of this aspect of him was a heightened appetite for more than just food.  His hands splayed out on her bottom and he hoisted her up to him, his lips finding her ear.  “I can think of other things I would like to work on currently,” he said, his voice deeper and rougher than it normally would - though he would not push it with her if the room put her off.

Kirika was gentle as she pet his face and looked up at his golden eyes. They were so pretty. She didn’t answer his seductive tone but she did kiss him and put her finger to her lips. She left the room. “Stay,” she ordered him as she poked her head back into the door for a moment. Bringing back the fresh linen from Lotus’s room she laid it out on the bed and gave him a grin before physically tossing Bryar onto it. 

There was a slight look in that’s icy blues that could make any man jealous of Bryar in that moment. Soon the clothes were gone and they repeated their honeymoon. There was a knock on their new door and Angela peeked in to see Kirika cuddled up to Bryar. Not really caring that they were nude the goddess came in.

“You could at least clean up.” With a snapped of her fingers, the room was put back together. The blood was gone and the bed was brand new. “You do the rest but I am gone for today. I’ve been away from my husband long enough.” She smirked and waved. “Have fun cleaning the house. Consider this room my wedding present.” She closed the door and Kirika who was rather spooked calmed down and laid her head on Bryar’s chest.

She was laughing, “I swear, it’s always an adventure with you.” She leaned up and kissed his chin thoughtfully. “We can fix the rest of it up… just like this room.” It looked a hundred years newer than before. The way the rose gold chandelier looked as it burned brightly above them smiled. There had even been paintings of her and Bryar put up. “Aunt Angela is tricky.” She did know how to decorate, though.

The floor was even shiny enough to see her own reflection in when she got up to look. Everything was brand new and it amazed her. “Our whole home could look like this…” The color red was now a soft blue much like Kirika’s own eyes. “I’ve never liked the color red anyways.” She mused as she laid back down in Bryar’s protective arms. “Think she changed the red to blue everywhere in the manor?”

Bryar let out a playful yelp as Kirika surprised him with her strength, tossing his much larger form back onto the bed - but he found it quite amusing that she took the time to grab the clean linens and laid them out on the bed.  Before long they were reliving their honeymoon, and he was enjoying her body in the way that he most desired.  The actual event remained uninterrupted, but soon after while they were basking in the glow of their lovemaking Angela walked in.   

Bryar immediately moved to cover himself up, but realized that Angela did not care that she was seeing him in the nude, but rather was chastising them for not cleaning the room before they got to what it was they were doing.  He blushed, bowing his head slightly.  “It’s my fault.. I couldn’t help myself,” he said, though the apology was coupled with a bit of a laugh.  He thanked her once more as she finished that room for them.

He relaxed as Kirika’s head lay on his chest once more, glad to hear laughter coming from her.  He smiled as her lips brushed his chin, nodding.  “We will fix all of it, and we will make it look the exact way you want it to, my love,” he said, nuzzling to her.  He admired the paintings of himself and her with a grin, but frowned as she moved to get up.  

“The blue matches your eyes, and makes you look even more beautiful - I did not realize that was even possible,” he said, and there was nothing but truth in his words.  “We can make this place an accessory to your beauty,” he said, wrapping his arms around her as she came to lay with him once more.  “I would assume that red will be the predominantly present color throughout the house,” he concurred.  “Shall we get dressed and take a look?” he asked, though his movements towards her gave way to something else as his lips met the nape of her neck and moved further down her body.  “What do you think?” he asked, looking up at her from his position above her chest.