Finally, being free of the city of Adeluna, Katerina decided she would never go back to the city. How could they think that Nikolaus could kill people on a whim? As they rode home, there was also one more decision; her vampire lover would meet her daughters. She knew in her heart that he wouldn’t leave her. This thought caused the wolf demon to glance over at him. Nikolaus rode on the horse beside her. When he caught her eyes, he smiled back at her.
It took some time, but they finally reached the border of her land. Howls echoed through the sky when they passed through the trees before the wolves ran next to them. Nikolaus was scared for just a moment until he saw heard Katerina talk to them. “I missed you too!” She called down to the baby wolves. With a small laugh, they rode on.
It only took a few minutes till they reached the house, she was anxious to learn about the travels her daughter hand. They made an agreement that they would be home in four days. Jumping off her horse, Katerina ran toward her four daughters that were waiting on the front porch. They all called her name while her arms circled them. “Mom!”, “Mommy!”, “Mama!”. The wolf demon’s heart warmed with love as she kissed each one of them. “I miss you, mommy!” Eva said as she received her kiss. “I did too!” ,” Me too!”. Came from the other girls.
“I missed you, all! So much!” She kissed them. “Mother? Who’s that?” Annette asked as she finally straightened. She eyed the man who was watching them. Her arms crossing her chest. Katerina knew what was going to come. “Girls, this is Nikolaus. A very old friend of mine.” She said as he came to stand beside her. “Nikolaus, this is Annette, Freya, Evangeline, and Guinevere. My beautiful girls! My eldest should be back any time today.” She introduced them and motioned towards every one of them. When she got to her eldest, she jumped up and down while reaching towards Katerina. “Mama. Up. up!” She said. Katerina was more than happy to oblige. Putting her on her hip, she kissed her head once more.
“Hello, Children. Katerina has told me so much about you. I feel like I know you already.” He said as he removed his hat. “OH! Since your Momma’s old friend. Does that mean you’re as old as her?!” Eva asked as she looked at him curiously. “Eva!” Annette frowned at her sister. “Mom isn’t old.” Katerina couldn’t help but laugh at the comment.
Kneeling to her level, Nikolaus looked at Eva. “Older.” His comment caused the girl to drop open her mouth. “No way! I bet you’re not as old as my Aunt and uncle! They are almost two thousand years old!” She said as she pointed over her shoulder. “Sweetheart. You don’t have an Aunt. Just Will is your uncle and he is only a few years older than me.” Katerina tried to correct her daughter. A bit confused by the little one’s comment. “Yeah huh! Aunt Victoria and Uncle Alastair AND! Will’s new daughter, P, just came yesterday!” Crossing her arms over her chest, Eva put on a grumpy face. “What?” Katerina eyes widened as she looked up towards the doorway.
The rest of the Silverstein’s walked out onto the porch. Victoria was the first to speak. “Well child! Look at you! And I thought you were long passed.” Stepping down the steps, she walked over to Katerina. “Wow. If you had blonde hair you would be your mother.” Victoria held out her hand towards the wolf demon’s face. Tears threatening to fall from her face. Katerina didn’t know what to say at the woman before her, she looked like her father, but prettier. Nikolaus looked up at Katerina in that moment, then stood up to introduce himself. “I’m Nikolaus.” He said with a bow to Victoria. “Hello. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Victoria said as she nodded towards the man. The vampire scent hitting her nose.
“I am Victoria, this is my brother Alastair. “She said while motioning towards her brother who stood leaning against the door. “Dinner is done. Why don’t we all sit and eat? Have a little talk as well?” Wilhelm turned into the house and took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure what to do at that moment.
After about thirty minutes, they all sat at the table with a few fish dishes before them. Pricilla was introduced to Katerina and Nikolaus. The two youngest laughed and played with each other while they ate. Annette and Freya ate their food quietly. The adults did the same. Victoria looked over the table at her niece who was still quiet wondering what was going on in her mind.
“WHY! Why didn’t he tell me about my aunt? My uncle!” Katerina kept screaming in her mind. “Why do these things still happen to me!” The sudden touch of a hand on her’s knocked the wolf demon out of her trance. Nikolaus had grabbed her hand and held it under the table. When her eyes locked with his, she saw the worry in his eyes.
Katerina didn’t say a word till the children finally went up to bed. Still sitting at the table, she stared at Victoria and Alastair. “Why didn’t my father tell me about you?” She finally spoke to them. Her Aunt was about to speak when Alastair, who was once quite like Katerina, spoke. “Because of me.” His words made her eyes shoot to him on the far side of the table. “She doesn’t need to know our past,” Victoria said as she started to stand. “Yes. She does.” His words made the sister sit back in her chair. Grabbing her wine, she sipped it while he spoke.
“I was in love with your mother.” His eyes stayed on his niece as he leaned his elbows on the table. He had to repress a sigh; he would always love her mother. Katerina’s eyes widened and didn’t say a word. “Your mother…chose your father. Your father never forgave me for trying to fight for her. So, I left.” He said looked over to his sister. “And you?” Katerina asked as she looked at her Aunt. “She chose the wrong brother.” Victoria said, but she was clearly hiding more but wouldn’t say any more.
Taking their word on it, they finally left the room and left Katerina to her thoughts. “Are you okay?” Nikolaus’ voice came up from behind her as his hands laid on her shoulders. “It’s just a lot to take in.” Turning in her chair, he kneeled beside the chair. His hand came up to move her strand of hair behind her ear. “Let’s get you to bed. Tomorrow will be a better day.” Pulling her up from her chair, he laid a kiss on her lips.
“Kiyomi!” Katerina said as she ran out onto the porch. She felt it; something was wrong. Nikolaus was quick on her heels. It was almost past midnight and her eldest wasn’t home. Closing her eyes, she whispered Kiyomi’s name. There was nothing. The charmed bracelet that Katerina had given her was not working. Turning to him, her worry showed all over her face. “Something is wrong Nikolaus!” The wolf demon turned around hearing footsteps. Maybe it was Kiyomi?
“You have to find her.” Amare was there and then suddenly Alastair and Will came rushing out. “What's wrong?” They had both heard Katerina’s outburst but Will was the one to speak. “I can feel her pain. You must find her. Go. I’ll watch the children.”
They all left that night to search for the missing dragon daughter; Katerina, Nikolaus, Alastair, Will and some of the animals. They looked non-stop for almost a month. Nothing came up from their search.
When they finally arrived at the house, Katerina greeted her children then walked into her bedroom and shut the door. Her children didn’t see because it was time for bed. After the kisses goodnight. Katerina wanted to escape reality. Nikolaus entered a few minutes after to hold her tight while she cried in his arms. Just like before, one of her children had gone missing without a trace. She thought about Natsumi, maybe she had her daughter? But there was nothing wrong with Kiyomi to permit her to take her.
As the rain poured outside her window, Katerina laid there beside Nikolaus. When he finally fell asleep, she had moved out of his arms to sit up. She made her wait to the windowsill, sitting down she watched the rainfall. She didn’t know how long she sat there, it had been hours. Maybe it was the middle of the night? Standing from her spot on the seat, she felt something. “Kiyomi?” She whispered before she ran out the door onto the porch.
Hearing her voice, the vampire jumped out of bed to follow her. He stopped right at the front doorway, right behind Katerina. A woman stood in the rain. Her head down and dark brown hair falling around her face. Her clothes were soaked. A skirt, white low cute sleeveless blouse, and a kimono overthrow that was belted in the middle. She also wore knee-high black boots. This wasn’t the Kiyomi Katerina had seen just a month ago. The girl wasn’t a girl any longer, she looked like a woman…. with fox ears and a tail.
“My baby girl!” Katerina called to Kiyomi before she ran to her with tears in her eyes. Taking Kiyomi into her arms, the wolf demon cried and just held her in the pouring rain. It took a moment before the fox girl put her arms around her Mother. Tears started to mix with the rain that was dripping from her face. She didn’t say a word, and neither did Katerina.
Standing at the windows were her Aunt and Uncles. They watched but didn’t move toward them. Katerina needed this moment with her daughter. Nikolaus also stayed in his spot in the doorway. He didn’t move until the two came into the house. Katerina took her straight to her room.
When they were alone, Katerina looked at her daughter. They were both soaked to the bone. Helping her broken girl, Katerina undressed her daughter. She couldn’t help but notice the changes, she still smelt the same. After drying off her daughter, Katerina put on one of her oversized shirts on Kiyomi, that she normally wore to bed. Sitting her down in bed, Katerina quickly changed before sitting down next to her daughter. “Can you tell me what happened?” Katerina asked as she started to dry Kiyomi’s hair.
Taking a deep breath, Kiyomi couldn’t look at her mother. She didn’t know how to tell her mother. She fell for a trick. Was raped, and then cursed. “Mom…” Kiyomi cried out before she hugged her mother. Katerina tried to hold back the tears as she ran her hand through her daughter’s new hair. “I… Mom… I did something horribly wrong. I gave myself to a man just to find out it was all a trick. Then… I was cursed.” That was all that Kiyomi could say at the moment.
Days finally passed, and Katerina kept a close watch on her daughter. She was mostly locked up in her room day in and day out. Kiyomi didn’t want to be around anyone, just stayed in her bed.
One day, Katerina’s Aunt stood up from the kitchen table. “Katerina. You have such a growing family. You need a bigger place…” Her voice made Katerina’s eyes look up. “This place is fine.” Was all she said before turning back to her book. “Katerina. You have all these growing girls. They need room, or they are going to pull each other’s hair out.” Pausing for a moment, the Aunt smiled. “I have the perfect place. I think it’s time to move into your castle.” Victoria smiled as she put her hand on her hip as Katerina’s eyes lit up.
“I think it’s time for a family trip. Just stay a week there, then decide.” Victoria leaned her free hand on the table as she stared at her niece. “Fine. A week.” Katerina sighed, she was reluctant but hated that her Aunt was right. “I need to get her out of the house.” Katerina thought as Kiyomi appeared in her mind.
The next day, they were packed and ready to go. With Nikolaus at her side, Katerina and her family left the house her Uncle gave her. Maybe for good.