Author: Dusk, Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2021 1:33 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Lewis was a little hesitant when Simone let Roma into the castle, but he let it slide since there were very few tells on where the island was. It paid off, though, as they all took a gander into Everett’s now personal room. In it, Alshaya was cuddled up to her brother as the two of them wandered their dreams.

As they closed the door, Roma had a tear in his eye. When Simone mentioned the nursery for the twins, he immediately lit up and nodded. “Please, show me,” he whispered. Lewis lead the way, and opened the door. Roma looked upon the sleeping twins, and merely smiled.

“Lewis,” he said softly. “I missed every opportunity I had in life to help raise you and share a place in life with you.” He looked over to his son. “I was never a strong man, nor a smart one. I rarely stood up for myself, and the result cost you and Leto everything.” He smiled. “I’m happy that you’ve made something of yourself, and that you’ve thrived in the face of all of this.”

Lewis rolled his eyes, “Get to the point…”

“If possible…I would like to spend as much time with my grandchildren as I can. All of them…to make up for the time I missed with you,” Roma replied earnestly.

The assassin was taken aback a bit. “We…need more time than this,” Lewis shot back. “We barely know you…but…” He looked away and started out of the room. Roma followed, and as the door shut, Lewis finally found the words he was looking for. “If…everything blows over, and you are who you say you are…then maybe…”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 7:17 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Simone frowned once more and nodded to Roma with a small smile. “They’ve always been close. They are only a little less than six months apart. They are much closer than most children and more like twins. At least that what most of their teachers tell me.”

She took a deep breath and Everett ran over to her hugging her. “Mommy I don’t like that look on your face!” Everett looked up at her worried and she scooped him up.

“What look?”

“You look like someone broke your heart,” Everett hugged her and Mone kissed his nose.

“Mommy is just worried you are growing up way too fast for her,” she hugged him and her son looked sad and hugged her.

“Well… Can Uncle Xeik make it so I don’t ever grow up and then you can have me forever and ever?” Everett looked up at her with his big gray eyes and Simone laughed.

“I don’t want you to be little forever I just want you two to slow down… Even a little. Mommy is worried when you two fight like that,” she kissed his nose and put Everett down.

He ran over and hugged Alshaya, “I’m sorry I said your feet stink.”

“I’m sorry too!” Shaya kissed his forehead and hugged him tightly.

“You gonna make a good wife for Uncle Xeik,” Everett declared proudly.

Simone took a breath. “I love these kids so much…” They finally got their dinner done and Simone got them all changed for bed. What she saw when she went into Everett’s room made her smirk a bit. She left the castle and went to Lewis and Roma. “Come with me quick,” she took her father-in-law’s hand. “Just this once I’ll let you in our real home while it’s not safe.”

It was easy enough to tell it was a castle by the way it was built. She put her finger to her lips as she led Lewis and Roma to the door. They had separated the two and put Alshaya in her own room which she was happy about. Simone opened the door and in Everett’s bed was Shaya and Everett snuggled up and sleeping sound. “He must have gone and got her.”

Closing the door after a few minutes Simone smiled up at Roma. "The twins' nursery is across the hall if you want to spend more time with them. Though I understand if you can't today."

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 7:03 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Xeik sighed when Alshaya kept bringing up the whole ‘marriage’ thing, but when she finally let him actually look her over, he found a small wound and healed it. As he moved on to deal with Rex, Simone and Lewis had their little conference together, with Simone truly feeling heartbreak over the whole situation.

Lewis crossed his arms, “It’s never been this bad. It might be best for them. Besides…they were going to need separate rooms anyway. This might be a good time.” Still, Simone looked worried.

“Sometimes siblings don’t always get along” Roma piped in from the side. “You two have done a very good job raising them so far…so much better than either I or my wife have, bless her departed soul. Sometimes…this is just the way things are. They spend almost every waking moment with each other, so perhaps a bit of privacy in their lives might help them settle better. They still live together, and perhaps this may temper their uh….tantrums, to say.”

“As much as I hate to admit it, but he’s probably right,” Lewis replied. “It’ll be okay, ‘mone. They’re just growing up, as much as we don’t want them to.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:51 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Shaya crossed her arms and looked up at Xeik. “No, but you hurt me.”

“Shaya…” Simone said gently.

Shaya crossed them tighter and made a face. “Uncle Xeik you a cheater an–”

“Shaya… Now is not the time. Are you hurt?”

Finally, the girl calmed down and uncrossed her arms, “My head hurts a little cause Everett pulled my hair.” She showed Xeik where her head hurt. Mia was peeking in the room and huffed softly.

“Mia, you don’t have to stand out there. Come inside,” Simone was warm and friendly.

“Stole my husband,” Shaya spoke up and Mia gave her a frown before she huffed more.

“Roma, you know Xeik but this is his girlfriend Mia,” Simone introduced Mia who waved. “She is a mute so please don’t feel disrespected if she doesn’t talk to you.” Mia smiled and nodded as she stayed by Xeik helping him with the kids.

“Lewis,” Simone got close to him and Roma was close to hear them. “They can’t sleep in the same room anymore. Look what Shaya just did to him. What if they fight over the beds next?” Simone was really worried. “Maybe it is time to separate them…” It sounded like her heart was breaking almost.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:45 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Lewis wasn’t gone for long, and luckily Xeik wasn’t too hard to get ahold of. As the two walked back into the Vilpamolan house, they were both surprised at the terror that Alshaya and Everett had unleashed between each other. With one glare from Lewis, though, both of them stopped, and went back to their seats.

“Well…,” Xeik said, unsure of how to handle the situation. “Let’s…do you first then, Everett…” He walked over to Everett’s seat, and looked at his bloodied nose. “Wow. Alshaya has a strong punch to have done this kind of hit.” The healer looked a little concerned. “Everett. How old are you?”

Everett beamed, “Seben.”

Alshaya huffed, “Almost seven.”

“Don’t you two start,” Lewis warned. “Everett, tell the man your actual age. It’s important. He’s making sure you’re not hurt.”

The boy sighed, “Fine… I’m six.” He sounded almost deflated. “But I’ll be seben soon!” If Everett was anything, he was stubborn as all hell.

Xeik sighed, and with a quick flick of his wrist, fixed Everett’s nose. He stood up, ruffling the boy’s hair, and moved on to Alshaya. “And here you are, you spoiled princess. Did Everett hurt you at all? You socked him real good.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:23 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Simone smiled a bit, “I’m so sorry Roma for giving you all this information. I wasn’t planning on it I swear,” she reached over and sweetly took Roma’s hands. “Honestly, if Everett hadn’t spoken up I wasn’t going to. I hate overwhelming people with our troubles.”

Simone snapped her attention to Everett but didn’t say a thing. The look on her face was enough. She wasn’t about to tell her seven year old how much those two were the devil.

Looking over Rex she sighed a bit. “Can you go get Xeik, please? I will fight Leilah over those demon hellions she calls sunflowers.” She kissed Lewis. “I’ll miss you while you’re gone,” she said it out loud to be funny but she actually meant it.

“I’m so sorry about this Roma… I feel terrible.” Simone felt defeated a bit but she wasn’t ready for what came next.

“Everett get off me you stink from your feet! You make our bedroom smell!” Shaya decided now was the time to act up since Lewis was gone.

“SHAYA!” Simone said out loud.

“NUH UH! It’s your feet and that’s why UNCLE XEIK WON’T MARRY YOU!” Everett yelled and Shaya launched herself knocking over the food to get at her brother.

“ALSHAYA! EVERETT!” The two were no longer listening to her now that Lewis was gone. Simone looked overwhelmed for a moment.

“YOUR FEET STINK,” they kept yelling as Alshaya decked her brother in the nose causing blood to go everywhere. Everett was pulling at Alshaya hair. Roma jumped up to help Simone.

Thankfully Lewis walked back in to see all of this as Everett’s nose was bleeding. "LEWIS DO SOMETHING PLEASE!" The both stopped as soon as they realized Lewis was back and gave him sheepish smiles.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 6:06 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

The explanation seemed to go over well enough, though at this point Roma may very well have been overwhelmed at everything his son had gone through. Still, he seemed to be hanging in there with the mass amount of revelations that seemed to be happening one right after the other.

“I think we should probably lay off the history, ‘mone,” Lewis said finally as he realized how overwhelming this was. He started to take a sip of wine, when Alshaya brought up her list and Lucas. He immediately did a spit take, almost choking on the wine he had. Even Simone was shocked at the fact that their six year old daughter had a marriage list.

Everett giggled at the fact that his parents were so shocked. “What. I got one too, but Aunty Lei won’t let me add anyone but Nyssa and Piper to the list. She says they’re all I need.” He went over to his sister and the two high fived. They had plans, and no one was going to stop them.

Rex groaned, “Can we just hurry this up? I hurt all over and kind of just want to go home.”

Lewis looked over. “You won’t die…but if you’re going to whine so much, I can grab Xeik or Lei to come over.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:47 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Simone could feel the want for her radiating off Lewis. He loved his wife dearly and whenever she did something like this… He paid attention to all the little details.

As Lewis tried to say not to believe rumors it was Everett who spoke up trying to defend them, “It’s not their fault! The fey people kidnapped me!”

Simone sighed a bit and smiled as she hugged Everett to her. “Daddy wasn’t saying we didn’t do it. He was just saying that it could have or could not have sweetheart. Because some things don’t need to be said to protect you all.” She kissed the top of Everett’s head.

“I can explain.” She sat down next to Lewis and thought about it. “All of this stems back to the day I was cursed. The fey queen responsible for my eventual curse also took Everett. She didn’t realize he was my son. I knew that once I went and killed her that the others would step up to their mantle. They would pursue us no matter what. So, we had to. We had to kill all of them to protect our kids… We didn’t know it at the time but the love that Lewis and I share… The love for our kids,” she looked at the twins. “Would give birth to them that night. When the fires finally reached their peak our friends came rushing in to find us. They were fearing the worst. What they found amazed them and us. We don’t know how it was possible.”

Simone looked said as she held her womb and sat back in her chair. “It shouldn’t have been… We created life. Our twins. They came from our overwhelming magic as it separated. Lewis and I can become one and we did so we could take down the threat to our family. The magic we generated created the twins. How this happened no one can figure out. I am going to ask you for the sake of our family that no one confirms it was us who did it. Rex and Lucas were the ones who retrieved the twins that night from us. We were in a coma for a while and we were told they bravely went and got them when our fire was burning everyone else.”

Once the intense talks died down Shaya spoke up, “It’s okay. I already crossed Rex off my list of people to marry. Lucas too since he is up Ezili’s skirts.”

“WAIT, you have a list?!” Simone looked at her sweet daughter. “Honey, you are too little.”

“LOVE DOES NOT HAVE BOUNDARIES!” Shaya shouted. “I’m going to marry all of them. I don’t want to cross Uncle Xeik off. I already had to cross Daddy off because he stares at your butt all day.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:32 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Through the whole ordeal, Lewis had to contain himself. There was a mix of pride and arousal coming off of him as Simone took down the sailor over twice her size, threatening him and his entire family. It took everything he had not to throw her on the table, but he knew better than to initiate such acts in front of the kids. And possibly Roma.

Rex stared in shock when Simone said they spiked his breakfast every morning, and he looked to Lewis. “Do you…do you really?’ The assassin nodded, and turned his attention back to his beautiful wife. As the sailor left, she turned her attention back to Rex, and demanded him to make an apology.

Rex grimaced, but turned to Roma, standing up and bowing. “Sorry for causing a scene…”

Roma was in a state of shock and awe. His dainty daughter in law had just bent a sailor to her will. On top of that, the Terrowin family was actually associated with the infamous Dusk Assassin, who apparently was Lewis. That was almost as much of a shock as Simone being strong.

“I have…severely underestimated you both,” Roma said as he looked between the two. “Is it true that you took down an entire fae court? And what about the Blood Echoes? I heard that you single handedly took them down as well.”

Lewis shrugged, “Shouldn’t believe every rumor you hear.” It was less about telling the truth, and more about leaving the mystery up. Besides, they didn’t need the confirmation that an entire fae court was burned to ashes because of them. That would lead a lot of unwanted attention their way, especially at the rate things were going.

“May need to lay low after this,” Lewis said as he sat back down in his chair and started to eat. “Please…eat. And Rex…” He sighed. “Just…try not to mess up the rest of dinner…”

Lucas cleared his throat, and glanced to Alshaya. “So…where did you learn that word you said earlier?”

Alshaya beamed, “Rex. He calls himself that all the time.”

There was a collective stare at the boy, who raised his hands in defense. “What!? I can’t help that she overhears everything I say!”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:10 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Simone crossed her arms, “You think I like being pursued? It’s tiresome Rex. Unlike some people, I prefer just my husband. Multiple lovers seem like a headache.”

Tapping her foot with agitation, “Don’t bother. Get dressed better, stay here, and think about the ways you are going to owe me for breaking the fucking window I spent ten days picking out with Lewis. Sit your fucking ass down next to Roma. Roma meet Rex. Rex meet Roma.” Simone left as there was pounding on the door.

“Can I help you?”

“Did a redheaded bastard just come in here?”

“Yes, come this way.” She led the man into her house and once he saw Rex he went for him. Simone was fast even in her evening gown as she grabbed his arm forced him down into a kneeling position and held a knife to her throat. “That’s my fucking son you are after.”

“HE WAS FUCKING WITH MY DAUGHTER!”

“Maybe your daughter shouldn’t be a slut then. Have you tried kicking her ass once in a while,” Simone was throwing daggers at this man as their eyes met.

“Don’t yo–”

“No, don’t you. I’m going to hand my boy his ass but if you think your daughter is getting off free you are wrong. Hurt my son and I’ll do the same to your daughter.” The man hesitated. “Surely, you realize who my husband is.”

Eyes went to Lewis and the man froze, “Dusk.”

“That’s right. You don’t think he hasn’t trained me? I’ll end you, your crew, your families. Touch my son and you are dead. Now I will hand Rex his ass but you are not to touch him. Do we have an understanding?”

“…but if my daughter is pre–”

“We put birth control potions in his breakfast every morning. We’re well aware of how he is. We are responsible. Now, do we have an understanding?” Simone looked at Rex. “Don’t fuck with his daughter anymore. Find new avenues to play in.”

She let the sailor up, “Do not come after my son, or I will keep to my word.” The sailor left silently not wanting trouble with the Dusks. "Rex, apologize to Roma… NOW."

Alshaya looked to Everett and then to Roma, "Our mommy is a badass."

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 5:00 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

When Alshaya made her remark about still wanting to marry Xeik, Lewis rolled his eyes. “No ‘shaya. We’ve talked about this.” They were about to go on, but Rex came in, thankfully allowing Lewis to drop the subject for the time being.

With Rex coming in the way he did, Lewis couldn’t help but give the boy a disapproving look. As the younger kids all started to mock Rex, Simone went off. Of course, the kids plugged their ears as requested. Once her tirade was done, Rex was left to defend himself.

“Okay, okay…” he held up his hands in his defense, which let his pants drop all of the way to the floor. “Oops,” he pulled them back up, and looked back at Simone. “One, in my defense…had NO idea it was gonna be pops over here. My bad,” he waved to Roma. “Normally when you have these dinners it’s some boring noble who’s either after you, or his son is after you. Or taxes.” He huffed. “And two, it was NOT a noble’s daughter, thank you. It was a sailor’s daughter. And man, can she ride with the wa-”

“You know,” Lewis said as he stood up. “Finishing that sentence is probably not the best idea.” He sighed, and motioned toward the back of the house. “Sailors. Rex, you do know that sailors are probably worse than nobles.”

“Yeah, but sailor’s wives are so desperate that you can get them both in the same night. Sometimes at the same ti-”

“Back of the house. Now.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:47 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Simone blushed a bit at Lewis as she returned his smile. “Maybe we could~ But I’m content as it is. As long as I’m your queen that’s really all that matters.” She kissed his cheek again.

There were gagging noises from Everett who was looking in, “Food when?”

Simone started to laugh hard, “Food soon. Go get your sisters.” She nudged Lewis slightly with a smirk.

Once they got settled for dinner that was when the bacon questions started. Simone chuckled and tried to remain on her husband’s side. Once Shaya had a shot at him and Everett looked set back Simone decided to help her son.

“Shaya, why are you still mad at your Uncle Xeik?” Simone nudged Everett.

“YEAH! Why you being a-a-a BRAT!” Everett smiled up at Simone.

“Cause Uncle Xeik is a cheater. Uncle Xeik broke my heart,” Alshaya wasn’t acting upset about it as she stuffed the potatoes in her mouth. They were her favorite. “Daddy?” She looked up at Lewis, “Are you going to make Uncle Xeik marry me? He broke my heart.” Simone gave a look like… This is your fight.

Simone pushed herself up at the crash. Rex came in shocked everyone was here. “REX!”

“OOOOHHHHHHH REX IS IN TROUBBBLEEEEEEEEE,” Everett and Alshaya yelled together.

“Please tell me. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF THE GODS. Tell me you weren’t just… Everett Shaya ears,” Simone said as they both covered their ears giggling.

“Rex gonna get it now,” they whispered to each other.

“Ears,” Simone waved her fingers. “Please fucking tell me you weren’t just out fucking with more nobles’ daughters again. And to answer your question because Lewis’s FATHER is here to meet all of you!”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:35 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Lewis wasn’t too happy that the twins were in Roma’s lap, but he dealt with it. At least Roma was somewhat trustworthy, at least in the moment.

When Roma mentioned Simone’s noble-like speech patterns and etiquette, Lewis smirked. As Simone gave her explanation, Lewis chimed in with a happy, “You’re my Queen, though….” It was a sweet gesture. “Besides, I bet we could make a small claim to the island and take it away from Bennin if we tried hard enough. Push comes to shove, we could just take Bennin…” That was a joke, whether or not Roma understood it or not.

Dinner came with time, and the family plus Roma moved to the dining room. It took a bit of time to gather the four terrors upstairs, and once they were all seated, there was a quick round of what was being served.

Everett looked at the spread, and furrowed his brow. “Where’s the bacon?” He looked to Simone and Lewis. “Can I have bacon?” Simone gave him a look, and then looked to Lewis.

“No Everett…we can’t have bacon every night. That’s not how it works.” They had been over this a million times, and Lewis had only caved once, by mistake. But once was all that was needed, and now Everett took it as a challenge.

“But Daaaad, you let me have it that one time!” he said, pouting.

Alshaya stuck out her tongue, “Everett, why are you being a-a-a brat!” She blew a raspberry at him, and reached for her fork. “Can you pass the taters?”

Lucas sighed, passing the potatoes to Alshaya, and apologized to Roma, “Sorry…they’re at that stage…”

There was a sudden crash in the living room, and Lewis was up in a flash with a dagger drawn. Rex came stumbling into the room, his pants half off and shirt in tatters. “Holy shit, why are you all here?” He looked around. “Nevermind that! Hide me, quick!”

Author: Simone, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 4:22 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

“It’s because Lewis and I have theoretically lost everything and we didn’t want our kids to. The world is unyielding and cruel but our children don’t need to be part of it to know about it.” They were being raised with the knowledge but not having to live it.

Ezili looked happy that Lucas was proud of her and squeezed his hand. She didn’t know much about the world but what Simone had told her and what she had lived. She still remembered how scary it was when she woke up in the river.

Simone sighed a bit and kissed her husband’s cheek, “I like to plan in advance you know that.” She knew that there were issues with the fact that she trusted Llywellyn. He never violated her, never took advantage of her, and overall he cared about her. If anything he was that annoying older brother that Simone never had.

The wife came back after giving Lila and took Lewis’s hand. “It will be alright can you please stop panicking? When have we ever failed each other?” Her eyes were sincere as she took Janus from his father. “The answer is never. We have always come out on top because we work together. We will continue to work together. Together we can do anything. Whether it comes to assassinations, our family, the orphanage, or even this. I believe in you, the Great Lewis… So just believe in me too.” She wasn’t dumb she knew he did.

She brought Janus over to Roma and put him down next to his sister. Immediately the twins seemed more pleased and were babbling up to Roma. “I bet you two have so many questions,” she chuckled a bit as their eyes snapped to their mother real quick. Simone got down just enough to their level. “This is your grandfather. I know you didn’t have one before but it’s sort of like Lady Angela calling herself your grandma.” She booped their noises and they giggled at her. “I know you both are so smart and understand what I’m saying… Don’t you?” One cue the twins looked up at Roma and lightly hugged themselves to him. “You are such odd little creatures but I’m so glad you are ours.” She pat their heads and returned to Lewis.

She held Lewis’s hand and smiled at him. “I hope you don’t mind. Our servants are working on dinner as we speak at our other house and bringing it. Once it’s safe… Maybe we can show you.” Simone was whispering and sometimes the words didn’t even leave her lips but it was enough for Roma to get the point. “We made sure we protected them. Multiple houses mean that we can rest safely at night.”

Roma was holding the twins to him and finally, he looked up at Simone, “You speak and act like a noble. You aren’t faking it.”

Simone was taken back a bit and rubbed the back of her neck. “That’s because I’m a blue-blood. Many centuries ago I was cursed by a fey lord and given the worst immortality alive. Lewis saved me from it but… before that I was a princess to a small kingdom and I was going to be queen. It was a long time ago though and I doubt I have any hold whatsoever to that title anymore.”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Thu Jan 28, 2021 3:53 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Roma was silent when Simone asked if his children were a part of the group that took Lewis. He listened to her very credible threat, and took a deep breath, closing his eyes. It didn’t need to be said aloud; the look on his face confirmed that it was indeed a very real possibility that his children were the cause of this whole mess.

“You do not need to apologize, Simone,” he said finally. “Unlike my family, it seems that you have a kind and caring one. I cannot blame you or Lewis for wanting to protect them.” He opened his eyes and smiled. With Ezili giving her idea, the older gentleman couldn’t help but smile at her innocent sounding plan. The fact that she could be so willfully innocent was a massive tell on the way that she had been raised, and how safe and sheltered she must be.

Lucas sighed and shook his head in agreement with Simone at her idea. Offerings and good tidings were indeed not enough to quell the issue at hand, but he squeezed her hand in approval that she was at least attempting to find a solution to the whole thing. Simone gave her own backup plan, to which Lewis made some kind of reaction to, but Roma couldn’t quite understand what or why it happened.

Lewis sneered, but nodded. “At least Lywellyn has an army ready. Not the worst plan. But let’s not jump the gun yet.” He sighed, and laid back in the couch as Simone took Lila over to Roma. He was almost screaming inside of Simone’s head in absolute panic over what might happen, but he appeared calm on the outside.

Janus watched as his sister was given to Roma. He gave him a deadly stare, as if to say, “Who is this man who has my sister?” Roma held the baby girl, looking into her azure eyes. “She’s so precious,” he said wistfully. “I wish I could have held Lewis like this…”

The assassin looked to the side, “Shut up with that kind of talk.” Janus made a babbling sound, and followed Lewis’ look. The two looked so similar. Lucas couldn’t help himself and smiled at the two.

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 5:41 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

“No, if anything he’s taken care of me. Our story is long and full of tragedy if you can believe it. We’ve gotten here though and that’s all that matters. I guess we’ve taken care of each other.” She leaned into Lewis for support and she watched as things got more serious.

She kissed each of the kids as they ran up the stairs. Simone leaned back and she thought about it all. “He’s right Lewis. Even if you don’t want it… Janus and Lila exist. He has to have the loophole in there for legal reasons. We dealt with this a lot back when Auclair was still a kingdom. I was there when my father drafted his own will. Something about ‘It’s what a king has to do’. I was listed at the very top but he had actually thrown out my uncle and cousin from it. Bad blood as we found out. Being a noble means that you have enemies even in your family and they won’t stop at anything for it. So it’s best to be prepared.” Her eyes went to Henry and she sighed a bit. “It’s why I got a personal guard but we all saw how that one turned out.” She tapped her foot as she thought about it.

“Lewis, it’s quite possible that they found out about you from rumors alone. You are quite famous in Vilpamolan now… It’s the entire reason why we bought the house here. It’s also possible on top of that the assassin who was originally hired talked at some point. God knows the assassins who came after me talked all the time…” Normally when they were strapped to a chair getting their fingernails ripped out.

Simone tapped her foot a few more times as she thought about it, “You know this is going to end badly for us Roma.” She was frank with him even using his name. “It’s nothing we haven’t dealt with but we’re going to have to be extremely careful. In the illusion, Lewis was told to bring the paperwork to his brothers. Do your sons have anything to do with my husband’s kidnapping?”

There was a protective spark in her as she looked down at the twins, “If they come after us again I won’t hesitate to use all the force I have… I’ve lost plenty of children in my very, very long lifetime. I refuse to lose these nine precious ones I have now.”

She calmed her emotions down as she took a breath and closed her eyes. The flames in the room were breathing as she tried to settle herself. “I’m sorry, I get worked up when I think my kids are in danger. We do everything we can to protect them. We weren’t sure if introducing all of them to you was a safe idea but in the end, it wouldn’t matter, I suppose.” Her eyes looked over at Lucas. “You have been reading a lot into things like this recently… What do you think we should do Lucas?”

Ezili made a face, “Can’t we… just give them good offerings? Isn’t that a thing?”

Simone smirked a bit, “You are far too innocent but no. Good offerings and tidings don’t work in situations like this.” She pet Janus’s black hair and sighed a bit. “At the end of the day… We know very little about all these enemies.” She looked at Lewis. “It’s not anything we haven’t dealt with. We fought a fucking dragon for god's sake. We’ll handle it and if it gets bad… Llywellyn can take the kids for a safe haven just to make sure.” She wanted to be supportive of Lewis. “If. IF.” She reassured her husband.

She pushed herself up and took Lila from Lewis. There was a gentle look in her eyes, “Honestly, there’s no point in fighting this. Even if we decline it’s already written to go to Janus and Lila. We need to handle it our own way when the time comes.” She brought Lila over to Roma and offered her. “They are gluttons… Xeik says once they start to walk they should lose some of their baby rolls but they are quite chubby.”

She took a breath, “To be honest with you, the twins are a miracle. I’m barren, my womb doesn’t exist. They were born out of our magic, what keeps Lewis and me alive. Angela says that our love cultivated them. I’m telling you this because I want to offer an olive branch and a little bit of trust. These twins are the only children Lewis and I will ever produce. They are the only piece of us. So they need all the love in the world."

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 5:17 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

“I’m not sure how long it’s been,” Lewis replied. The truth was, he didn’t really care. The time he spent with Simone was too precious to count, and it didn’t matter to him how long they had been together, so long as they were together till the end. It was a strange sentiment, but one that he stood by with his heart.

Roma listened to Simone, and was surprised at how alike father and son truly were. “It seems to me that…I owe you a great deal for taking care of my son, Simone. I’m happy that he has found someone near and dear to his heart.” When he smiled, it was a real one this time, almost like Lewis, and it showed. “And…now we should probably talk about some difficult matters.”

Lewis nodded. “All right kids…you can go back upstairs to play. Just try not to make too much of a mess before dinner, all right?” Alshaya and Everett nodded, and practically dragged Fiori and Mira upstairs to join them. Lucas and Ezili looked to each other, and with a nod, turned their attention to Lewis.

“If it’s okay with you, we’d like to stay and help if we can,” Lucas said with a determined look.

Lewis thought for a moment, and finally nodded. “Okay…you’re old enough to make your own decisions on that…” He looked to his father. “So what have you found out?”

Roma snapped his fingers, and Henry produced documents, which were passed to Lewis. As the assassin scanned them, Roma started to speak. “I’m still not sure how they discovered you initially, but…there are financial records from my brother here. Coin was withdrawn from the Hoja bank here, and there’s nowhere it could have gone but to an assassin’s pocket. I’m positive that he had Leto killed. The question is-”

“How did I survive,” Lewis responded. “There’s a great deal of assassin’s who won’t go through with killing kids. It’s possible he was blindsided with it.” He sighed. “It’s all still speculation, but…why were my mother and I targeted?”

“Well,” Roma said, looking a little ashamed. “You were an illegitimate child. So…we had you and Leto removed from the premise. Now…I was going to take care of you, but-”

“But you were too late. Before you could provide any help, your brother moved in. So basically, I was a threat to the whole family.”

“My children…they’ve become monsters in their own right. They don’t deserve a penny of my fortune,” Roma stated with a glare. “I wrote them out of the will.”

“And…because of the loophole in the will…everything comes to me,” Lewis finished. “I don’t want it.”

“It doesn’t matter what you want,” Roma replied.

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:59 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Simone smiled a bit at the compliments, “Oh believe me… They are a handful. Five children under ten are no joke. I’m surprised I haven’t gotten wrinkles.”

Shaya came barreling in from the other room, “NO WRINKLES!” She jumped up into Simone’s lap and pulled on her face. “You gotta look young FOREVER!” Simone kissed her head.

“Don’t you worry about that. Your daddy has that all covered.”

“HE BETTER.” Alshaya got kissed on the head before she bolted again.

“Crazy kids…”

Simone could do nothing but laugh towards Ezili and Lucas. “We adopted Lucas and then Lucas found Ezili in the river. They have been attached ever since they found each other. We adopted them both but I feel like they belonged together before then.” She smirked a bit.

Simone practically glowed when she heard, “Lewis If that doesn’t sound familiar.” She leaned over and kissed Lila’s head. “It’s Lila by Janus Webb. The twins are named after it. I’m a writer as well, I took it up as a hobby so I could help once Lewis told me I couldn’t go on jobs anymore… Well I can go on some but I got caught up in a lot of bad things.”

“She gets kidnapped a lot,” Ezili spoke up.

“I used. USED. To get kidnapped a lot. We’ve had a quiet five years. Thank you Ezili.”

“No problem Mama!” The water naiad looked proud of herself.

“It’s funny… My voice comforts Lewis and he likes to hear me read poetry. All of our kids aside from Rex and Lucas are named after poetry of some sort. I guess you’ve inherited a lot without realizing it,” Simone smiled towards Lewis. It really did seem like Simone was made for Lewis at this point. “Sort of funny,” she snaked her hand up to Lewis and held his while he held the twins, “being made for each other so far apart.” They were practicing saying things out loud these days.

The love was contagious as Ezili held Lucas’s hand.

Once Simone realized she was staring at Lewis she blushed a bit. “Lewis and I have been married for… Seven or eight years now?” She looked at Lewis for confirmation but the past few years had been a hurricane for them with so many kids.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:48 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Roma was surprised at the influx of children, and even more surprised at all of the interactions between the family. There was a longing smile across his face. He had wished for the chance to have his family like this, all loving and carefree, but instead his children had become monsters our for his own life.

Lewis held the twins, quieting them with his own genuine smile. “There, there…calm down. There’s a lot going on, I know…” He kissed Lila’s forehead, and nuzzled Janus. He looked at Roma afterwards, and his smile faded back to his normal dead stare. “So…”

“My name is Lucas,” the leviathan said with a smile. “This is my girlfriend, and…well, their adopted daughter, Ezili.” He shrugged. “It’s complicated. Sort of…” He blushed. “But yeah…” He smiled. “So you’re Lewis’ dad, huh? I can see a bit of the resemblance. You have a similar look about you….though, Lewis tends not to smile like that often. It’s usually only around the younger kids, though he does a little around me and Ezili…”

“When I’m not making sure you two are behaving,” Lewis replied.

“We’re behaving!” Lucas said as he sat up straight. “N-nothing crazy is happening.”

“Better not be,” the assassin replied.

Roma chuckled at the interaction. “My, you all seem lively.”

“We can be…” Lewis said. He took a breath as things started to calm down, if a little. “What was….Leto like? My mother?”

At that, Roma’s face darkened a little. He looked down, saddened. “Your mother…” He took a deep breath, and looked back up with a forced smile. “Leto looked a lot like you. Of course, she had much longer hair. Her eyes were the same color though, but they glowed with vitality whenever she came by. Her laugh was contagious, but I rarely got to hear it. For the most part, she was quiet and kept to herself.”

“How did you meet?”

“Well…you see, I had lost a book. It was…ah, what was it…a collection of poems, was it? Well, as it turned out, Leto had it. She was reading it out loud, practicing in order to become a writer. I stumbled upon her reading, and fell in love with her voice.” Roma smiled. “A poem by Janus Webb, I believe…something about a woman. I can’t even recall what it was about now.”

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:35 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Simone smiled down at him and rubbed his face lovingly. “I’m sure. I miss you playing with me too,” she chuckled a bit as she bent down and kissed him. “Soon though but not too soon… I don’t know if I’m ready for that.” There was that mother’s worry.

Getting ready was relatively easy as she pinned her long dark locks up with green gem pins. Her dress was pleasant having long skirts of dark green with a sweetheart bodice of a pale pink. It was off shoulder with short lacy sleeves. Her precious lock was around her neck and visible.

Simone kissed his cheek after he opened the door to help his worry, “Welcome to our home.” She bowed a bit but left them early. The sounds of young children playing came from upstairs, “Hey, come down here.” Simone went to the stairs. “Everett, Alshaya, Fiori… Come on. We have someone we want you to meet. Lucas, Ezili, Mira… You guys too.”

There was a bit of fussing from a cradle not to far from the table, “Now, don’t you two start… You were just fed… Or…” She lifted Lila and Janus up. “Do you want Daddy?” Once they were handed up to Lewis they quieted down. “There’s a first for everything.” She was mildly impressed. “These two are Janus and Lila. The three terrors approaching…”

There were joyous screams as Fiori ran in with Everett and Alshaya chasing her as they played. “The white-haired girl is Fiori, the boy is Everett, and this cutie,” she snatched Alshaya who was a ball of laughter as her mother kissed her. “Is Alshaya. Can you three go wash your hands for dinner?”

“Okay!” They each ran off to find the washroom. “Fiori, make sure they wash well.” She introduced the older kids who sat down at the table. “Unfortunately… We’re missing one. Rex was nowhere to be found.”

“He said… and I quote: I’m off for a grand adventure,” Ezili clasped her hands as Lucas sat down next to her on a couch. Mira was in a chair looking at her diamond ball curious about the family get together with the stranger.

“Uh-huh,” Simone looked unimpressed. “I’ll leave you for introductions if that is alright,” Simone gave Roma a smile as she sat down next to Lewis on a couch.

“Dinner when,” Alshaya ran in.

“An hour or so. I just wanted you to wash up.”

“She says she tricked up,” Alshaya yelled to the others who were booing.

“I didn’t trick you~” Simone laughed a bit as Shaya ran in and Everett came barreling in tackling his sister. “Careful… We don’t want to call your Uncle Xeik for scratches.” Shaya made a face and it was clear the little girl was still upset at him. “Shayaaaa.”

“No, he’s a cheater. He broke my heart.” She crossed her arms and threw herself on the floor.

“Okay, fine but can you pout while playing with your brother?” At those words, Alshaya and Everett went to raise all holy hell upstairs again.

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:18 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Lewis was grateful that Simone was helping him destress, and it definitely helped clear his mind. He sighed, though, at her question if he wanted more. The answer was always yes. He could never get enough of her, but the reality was that they were running out of time till the meeting. “Sadly, we need the remaining time to get ready…” He sighed, looking up at her. Instinctively he reached up for her, but frowned and let his hands drop.

“I’ll be glad when the twins are done…”

It took them little time to pop back over to the island and get ready. Lewis chose a more casual garb, a shirt and light color vest, with darker pants. His hair was a mess, but Simone made a quick adjustment to at least make it presentable. The kids were, well…as is. There wasn’t really a good way to get them ready, and Rex seemed to be missing.

As they filed into the Vilpa House, minus a Rex, there was a knock at the door. Lewis gave Simone a dead stare, but there was definitely worry that she could feel oozing off of him. Still, he answered the door, and invited Roma in. With him was a rather tall orc. He had a pleasant enough smile, but didn’t seem entirely too sure of the place.

“Hired muscle,” Roma stated as he took off his jacket. “Can’t be too careful these days. Henry, could you hang this?” The orc nodded and took the older man’s coat. Lewis led him to the sitting room, and sat across from where Roma would be seated.

“So..” Lewis said.

Author: Simone, Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 4:10 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

Simone was helping her husband tidy up the house. She had been dusting and clearing cobwebs from the ceilings. After all, it was easy when you could fly. “Honey,” she said it sweetly as he fussed on the couch. She fell down by him. “Sweetie. Love of my life.” Lewis gave her that look when he knew she was buttering him up.

“You are worrying far too much about this. We'll be fine. I can protect the kids. Ezili can protect the kids. Hell Fiori would just stab their eyeballs out, which is really worrying by the way.” She put her finger up under his chin. “You are too filled with being nervous. I can fix that…”

She pushed him over and took her sweet time de-stressing him. Straddling his naked body on the couch she looked down at him. “Do you feel better now? Or do you need more?”

Author: Dusk, Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2021 3:58 PM, Post Subject: A Father's Will [p/r]

They had gotten to the Vilpa House early in the morning, and started to tidy it up. It hadn’t been used in some time, so a light dusting was in order. Rather than use the house help, Simone and Lewis took it upon themselves to do the work instead, thinking it might help with Lewis’ nerves. It was impossible to tell from the outside, but Simone knew that he was panicking about the eventual meeting with Roma they had later that day.

What do I even say or do? he asked. The assassin sighed as they finished up the main rooms, and sat down at the couch. It was close to the meeting time, but they still had a few other things to take care of. Lewis still hadn’t decided if he was comfortable with any of the kids being there, but at worse they needed to have Lila and Janus, as the two were rather needy lately and practically always starving.

“Besides…Lucas and Rex can hold their own in a fight if it comes to that,” Lewis said aloud. It wasn’t that he expected a fight, but that was something to consider if the worst came to pass. “Maybe having them all here is a good thing? But no, that’s putting them in harm's way….not a good plan.” He took a deep breath.

“Simone…what do you think?”