Yawning, Willow walked out of her bedroom door after Jack, who stretched with a satisfied grunt.
"I have a short meeting with Darlia, so you can head down to eat." As he closed the door behind him and vanished, she stretched herself, as Willow made her way down the hallway, her fingers brushed over the bandage on her neck, and a faint blush colored her cheeks.
They need to be careful, feedings seemed to become harder and harder to pull away from, making her wonder if that weird mistake that made it arousal had become stronger somehow. They only been able to pull apart as Jack accidentally smacked her alarm clock on the floor with his elbow and it went off after pulling her closer.
Suddenly, she sensed a presence behind her. Turning, she saw Fahima approaching and greeted her with a warm smile.
"Oh, hi Fahima, going to breakfast?" Willow asked, allowing her to come up to her side as they continued down the corridor. However, Fahima's demeanor seemed uneasy as she twisted her fingers, and her words took Willow by surprise.
"Was that Jack I saw coming out of your room?" Fahima whispered, her eyes darting around cautiously. Twirling a lock of hair she wondered how much she could tell Fahima without stepping over Jack's boundaries when her tone shifted, and as she leaned closer. "Willow sweetheart, you need to take a step back from Jack. You're too comfortable with one another it makes the others suspicious. Vadim hides it most of the time so it is easier to let that be an out of sight out of mind thing, but if you two are not careful Death will get suspicious and I don't want to lose you."
Willow came to an abrupt halt, her face flushed beet red with embarrassment.
"We didn't do anything!" Willow waved her hands frantically in front of her. "He was hungry, that's all." Her voice dropped to a whisper as they continued down the stairs, conscious of Fahima's scrutiny and the fresh bandage on her neck as they headed down the stairs.
"Okay, this sounds like an interesting conversation,"
a voice interrupted them, and they turned to see Vadim coming down the stairs with a raised brow. He halted a few steps above them, curiosity in his eyes as he glanced from Fahima to Willow. "What are you implying, Fahima?"
Fahima quickly tried to defuse the situation. "Nothing! Anyway, I'm hun-"
Willow abruptly turned around sensing someone and bumped into something solid. It was Jack, and he was grinning mischievously as Willow rubbed her nose.
"Are you two bullying my pet?" Jack chuckled, his tone teasing as he looked down at Willow. "You know that's my job."
"Sounds like you're doing it plenty enough," Vadim grunted, walking past them.
Willow sighed. "You need to stop appearing in front of me like that," Willow stepping around him to head for breakfast. "Thought you had a meeting with Darlia?" She mumbled, ignoring Fahima's intense stare as Jack followed behind them towards the kitchen.
"Why? your heart can't handle my beauty packed in a surprise?" He smirked, as Willow rolled her eyes. "Anyway I did tell you it was a short meeting. So I'm heading out soon to pick someone up, I will be back in about an hour, just wanted to inform you."
She turned around, seeing him heading down the corridor away from them. It had been days since their encounter with Evelyn, and he had yet to ask her to accompany him on another mission. Frowning, she hurried after him, calling out, "Wait!" He turned, as Willow walked in front of him. "If I grab some toast can I come with you? Feel like I sorta neglected my duties in going with you on missions lately," she chuckled hopefully, not ready for hearing more of what Fahima clearly needed to say with the intense stare she felt on her back.
"No."
"Why?"she frowned, disappointment creeping in.
Jack raised a questioning brow. "Can you breathe underwater or squeeze through a cave without freaking out?"
She became silent. "No."
"Then no," he affirmed. "I'm going with someone else to learn how to retrieve these kinds of souls, and I'm already sorta freaking out. I don't need you to freak out with me and jeopardize my job." He reached over and ruffled her hair, quickly retracting his hand as she pushed it away. "Go eat breakfast with the others. I might have a job later today if you want to stretch your legs." With a wave, he vanished.
Willow spun on her heel and headed to the kitchen with a big smile, walking past Fahima. She took her usual seat and nodded to the others, surprised to see Charlie at the table playing fighter games on his switch. The sounds of virtual combat mixed with the chatter around the table.
"What's up?" She smiled, reaching for the pastries, as Charlie looked up from the game and nodded at her.
"I'm waiting for Vadim to get done so we can wake up Itsuki and get going," he explained, smiling as the game on the screen declared his victory ."We're going to a concert to see a Nephilim named Dion in the Klòren camp in Greenland. He's an awesome singer because his mother used to be a part of the Heavens choir."
"Klòren camp? Lucifer's protection camps for Nephilim's, Fallens and witches?" She took a bite of her toast with Nutella. "Sounds fun."
Charlie looked up from his game, tilting his head slightly. "If you ask Jack, I'm sure he'll take you," he suggested with a smile.
"Marek promised that next time he's taking me," Aina beamed, munching on her cereal. She sat beside Fahima, who was peeling an apple. "But he's taking Jack to the Eagle's nest cave today."Â She pouted and leaned back in her seat.
Marek, Willow thought, remembering what Jack had said about Evelyn turning Marek. Aina had told her that Marek had died on the Titanic while working as a crew member. She couldn't help but wonder if Jack had ever told him about their encounter with Evelyn. They hadn't officially announced that she knew about her dad, but everyone had sensed something had happened when Ian had returned injured, and Willow was furious. Plus, they had informed Darlia, who subsequently held a meeting with them about staying away from the rogues' path.
"Yeah I heard, thank you Tuma," she smiled at Tuma who handed her the orange juice. "But Jack said he will take me on a mission later though, but it sounds fun." She smiled at Vadim who just grunted.
Fahima, however, wasn't ready to drop the subject. She looked at Willow with concern in her eyes. "Can't you stay home? We could have a girls' day, all three of us," she suggested, her voice filled with worry. "I think Jack can handle it without you."
They looked at one another, and it was clear to Willow that Fahima wouldn't let it go. She knew that Fahima was nervous due to the fact their feeding is like when one of them likes the other for some reason, and if Darlia or Death found out they might think one of them really did and that would be dangerous for them both.
"Oh that could be so fun!" Aina chimed in.
"It sure does, but I promised Jack I would go," she ignored Fahima's stare, as she got up. "Thank you for breakfast but I have a list that Jane ordered me to make about stuff I want for my bedroom." She began walking off, waving shortly. Closing the door after her, she sighed loudly before walking down the corridor wondering why the universe kept handing her bad cards. She didn't want to make Fahima worry about a thing that isn't real, but at the same time she wanted to know why they reacted like that under feeding.
As she walked, she heard Fahima's voice calling out to her. Willow turned around and saw Fahima approaching, reaching for Willow's hands and holding them gently. "I'm sorry if I pushed too hard, Willow. It's just... I care about you, and if the wrong person were to find out-"
"I know, and I'm sorry for worrying you," She gave her hands a squeeze. "But there is truly nothing to worry about, Jack doesn't love me, Death, at times I have a hard time believing he even likes me." She chuckled, ignoring the weird feeling in her stomach by the thought of Jack not liking her.
They continued walking down the corridor together, heading toward the living room to get some paper for Willow's list. Fahima spoke softly, her concern evident. "He does. He wouldn't spend all that time on you if he didn't," she murmured. "I just need you two to be careful."
"I know-" Willow began, but her attention was drawn away by loud singing. She turned toward a chair by the window, where a girl with golden blonde hair was sitting, headphones in, doing her nails. The model-like girl bobbed her head to the music, wearing a short baby blue corset dress with short butterfly sleeves. Her right arm was adorned with black and white butterfly tattoos, and she couldn't have been more than nineteen, clearly a reaper, given the clock tattoo on her alabaster shoulder.
The girl shifted her gaze to the girls and her big honey brown eyes widened. The girl quickly pulled out her earphones, a soft smile gracing her thin, glossy lips.
"Fahima, babe, finally! I was waiting for you to be done so you can cut my hair," she said, smiling as she got up. Her black ankle boot heels clicked loudly as she approached them. She nodded toward Willow, and her large hoops swayed under her long, beachy wavy hair. "If you of course have time and are done talking to Willow."
Willow furrowed her brow. "Do... do I know you?" She studied the slightly taller girl, searching for any clues that might help her remember where they might have met.
The girl laughed, her eyes crinkling with amusement. "Oh no, but I do know you. You're all over the news because of Jack," she chuckled, her eyes dancing with mirth. "Nice to officially meet you, Willow. I'm Daisy, Daisy Angevine."
"When did you get back?" Fahima greeted Daisy with a hug.
"A couple of minutes ago, I didn't want to disrupt your breakfast," Daisy replied, returning the hug while glancing at Willow.
"Where's Arvo? Is he coming too?" Fahima asked as she pulled away from the hug.
"No, he's decided to stay back in Estonia, I'm only staying for a couple of days as Darlia has called on me anyway," Daisy smiled softly before turning her attention to Willow, who wore a confused expression. "Arvo was the one who turned me in the sixties, I'm staying with him until Darlia thinks I'm 'grown' enough to live on my own as I refuse to stay on the island." She rolled her eyes upon the word grown. She reached her hand towards Willow, grabbing her chin while Willow looked at her surprised a tremble shooting through her. "By the way, your eyes they pretty cut-"
Before Daisy got a chance to finish, Willow felt it, something warm touching her hand and without thinking she snatched it away with wide eyes as she stepped back into Daisy. Her heart in her throat and images of the times John held her in place by gripping her hand flashed behind her eyes as she saw Aina in the doorway looking surprised back.
"Sorry, sorry," Willow stammered for a second, letting out an awkward chuckle as she pulled away, her heart in her throat and her eyes beginning to become teary. "you just startled me, what is it Aina?"
"Jack is back," she mumbled, taking a step back. "Marek's is asking for you to meet them in the entrance."
Frowning, she wondered why he didn't just come and look for her himself, as she turned to Daisy.
"So nice to meet you, but I better go find Jack." She smiled shortly, before hurrying past Aina and heading for the entrance, feeling her heart finally calming down.
In the entrance, she found Marek and Jack, both drenched and surrounded by BustyrÃas holding towels. As soon as Jack spotted Willow, he pushed through the group and walked toward her with a towel draped around his shoulders.
"How did it go?" Willow smiled, instinctively reaching up to push some of Jack's hair out of his eyes. He grabbed her arm with a frown and examined it closely.
"You smell... different. Who have you been with?" He let go as she pulled back.
"Nobody. I had dinner with the others, and... oh, I met a new reaper, Daisy." Jack's jaw dropped for a moment before his eyes darted around.
"She's back?" He whispered, scratching his neck as he focused on her. "Why do you smell like her? Did she do anything to you?"
Willow raised a brow in confusion. "What? No, what could she have done? I only just met her."
"Well, she moves fast when she wants something," Jack mumbled.
"What can I say? I'm a sucker for pretty eyes" She turned around and saw Daisy approaching, followed by Aina and Fahima. Daisy looked from Willow to Jack, who tensed. "Especially if they're on a pretty face," Daisy added with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"Please, spare me." Jack whimpered as Daisy winked at him while she approached. He inched in behind Willow, taking hold of her arm, which made Daisy chuckle.
"Oh come on Jack, you can't tell me you haven't missed me." Daisy said, leaning forward and looking at him over Willow's shoulder. "We used to have so much fun when you first arrived." She giggled, her eyes glistening with mischief.
" I don't think you and Jack have the same humor Daisy," they all turned to look at Ian, who stood on the stairs, leaning against the railing with a slight smile on his lips.. " though that pink dress was cute on him." He grinned.
Fahima and Aina tittered softly amongst themselves.
"'I know right? He was such a cutie!" Daisy leaned in and pinched Jack's cheek, making him jerk his head backward. Willow looked back at Jack, who stood there scowling, wondering how on earth Daisy managed to get him into such a thing.
"Jealous i could fill it out better than you?" He snorted with a raised brow.
"Please, you're hot Jack, but not that hot." Daisy rolled her eyes and flicked her hair over her shoulder. " I can't help you lost the bet."
"Bet?" Willow looked from Daisy to Jack who ruffled his hair with the towel.
"We got drunk on KebÃc mead a few years after he joined under a DaquÃl summer festival and bet about who could catch a fairy first, and trust me, when you're drunk those little things ain't easy to catch. by Death, Arvo and you, Ian was pissed" she chuckled, her eyes glistening by the memory.
Willow knew KebÃc's were elf nomads from the red desert in the south on the island Malésh in Enzaya, and DaquÃl was one of the religions in the realm. The religion of Death, DaquÃl was not from what the chronicle said, one of the bigger religions like ErthaÃan who was the most widely spread, but Daqil's was loyal to Death and therefore by default reapers too, believing death is just part of their journey and a new adventure and therefore do they not fight it, but celebrate it. The DaquÃl summer festival they spoke of was a thing KeÃland tribes celebrated every 3 years for 30 moons where the red desert meets the sea in the west, located by the remains of Jormungand, the sea serpent. It was slayed thousands of years ago by Mosbor, the oldest of the 3 giants who once lived in Enzaya. The 3 giants died in a fight about who was the strongest, and their blood soiled the continent the desert red and henceforth gave it its name.
By death Willow loved this crazy world.
"Are there any pics?" Willow grinned, looking around hopefully. Daisy reached for her pocket, but before she could retrieve anything, Willow felt Jack's fingers entangle with hers. In the blink of an eye, she stood beside Jack's bed. "No fair! I wanted to see..." she pouted jokingly. Jack ignored her, walking toward the closet and pulling off his leather jacket.
He dropped it onto the floor, accidentally knocking a black violin case against the wall. Sighing, Willow walked over and picked up the jacket, then carefully placed the violin case back against the wall. "When did you learn to play?" She turned her attention toward Jack, who emerged in a pair of grey sweatpants and a white tee.
"Around seven. My mom had this idea that her children should at least know one instrument. My sister picked the piano, and I picked that," he gestured at the case before taking the jacket from Willow's arms. "Ian insisted on taking it with us when I picked up some stuff from my bedroom back when I was human." He slung the wet jacket over his desk chair.
"Do you still play?" She asked curiously.
"Not really. I don't see the reason to. I only did it because my mom liked it when I played for her," he shrugged, leaning against the back of the couch.
"Too bad. Violin music is so beautiful," she mumbled, her eyes caressing the case before her eyes went back to Jack. "You mentioned a job I could go on with you. When is that?"
"Midnight. It's not our usual job of picking up a soul, though. We're going to gather information for Dauði," he ruffled his damp hair and pushed himself away from the couch. "Wanna play until we have to go?" He gestured toward the TV.
"Oh, you're going down," she grinned, walking over to the couch as he jumped over the back onto it. "Shall we make a bet? Whoever wins has to wear something the other chooses on the mission"
He raised a brow slightly before smirking.
Merry Christmas/happy holidays everyone! Hope you all have a wonderful day with good food and amazing company ðð¥³ð