“You’ve been staying over at Noah and Elara’s house a lot lately—almost like you live there,” Liz said casually as we flipped through channels, each station flashing colors across the dim living room. Static, commercials, boring sitcom reruns—nothing sticking long enough to care.
“Yeah… I guess I do pretty much.”
Bella shrugged lightly, the weight of two bodies leaning against me made the sentence feel warmer. Bella was curled into my right side, her hair tickling my neck, and Elara draped over my left, scrolling lazily through her phone while her fingers absentmindedly traced circles on my thigh.
Liz sat a little apart in the armchair, legs crossed, but watching us with something like quiet amusement.
“Holy shit—Noah, check this out.” Elara’s tone sharpened, excitement cutting through the calm. She held her phone up to me, eyebrows raised. “EDD445 got caught trying to meet an underage boy again. Holy fuck, this girl just does not learn.”
The video played, shaky camera footage inside a grocery store.
The obese woman was cornered, panic spreading over her face before one of the people filming slapped her so hard she hit the floor tiles.
“Ouch,” I muttered, wincing and laughing at the same time. The clip cut abruptly, leaving only the aftertaste of chaos. “She’ll never learn…”
“Man, if I was there?” Bella said, eyes locked on the dark TV screen reflection. “I would’ve ripped her guts out myself.”
“Same,” Elara added without missing a beat. “I’d scoop her eyeballs out while she was still alive—just dig my thumbs in, watch everything go dark. Would be awesome.”
Liz made a disgusted but amused face, shaking her head. “You two are insane.”
But I just sat there, letting their words echo.
Hearing them casually talk about torturing someone should’ve terrified me… but instead, it felt strangely reassuring, like being wrapped in a heavy blanket. They meant what they said. I knew they did. I’d seen what Elara was capable of before—real blood. Even now, the memory sent cold goosebumps crawling up my skin.
I glanced at Bella for a moment, wondering if she knew what Elara had done—what she was willing to do.
Or if she was just as dangerous.
And whether that should scare me…
or make me feel safer than ever.
Probably safer—having two goddesses who would kill for you is so comforting, so intoxicating. Just… ugh. Perfect. The thought alone sent a warm rush through my chest.
“Hey, ma,” Bella spoke suddenly, turning her head just enough to catch Liz’s eyes, “it wouldn’t bother you if I said I wanted to move in with Noah and Elara?”
Liz blinked, caught off guard. A small, sad smile crept onto her face. “Nah, it wouldn’t bother me. I mean… it would feel kind of lonely without you, but I can’t keep you here forever either, I suppose.” Her voice wavered, and guilt punched deep into my ribs.
Damn it. I wanted Bella living with us so badly—but ripping her away from her mother felt like stealing something precious. Watching Liz force a smile made my stomach twist.
Then—like lightning—an idea sparked.
“Hey, Liz,” I said, sitting up a little straighter, excitement bursting through me. “Once we have that big house in the middle of nowhere, how about you come live with us too?”
For a second she just stared, her eyes widening.
Then she broke—bursting into pure joy.
“Really? That… that would be amazing! Of course I’ll come!” she said, voice trembling with relief. Elara’s gaze slid to me, and the smirk she gave me could’ve melted iron.
“Good job, baby,” she murmured, low and sultry, leaning close enough that I felt her breath on my ear. The way she looked at me—hungry, proud—my whole body lit up. God, I wanted her to take me right there on the couch with everyone watching. That look alone made my legs weak.
“I can’t wait,” Liz continued, hands clasped together like she was praying. “Seeing my grandkids every day, having you make everyone food, living peaceful and safe—oh gods, it’s so perfect!”
Her excitement filled the room like sunlight. Bella squeezed me tighter, burying her face into my shoulder. Elara rested her chin on my arm, her fingers sliding up to my jaw.
Everything felt aligned.
Safe. Warm. Mine.
The future was right there—close enough to touch.
A low branch snapped across my shin, carving a burning line through my skin.
“Fuck,” I hissed, gripping the bark of the nearest tree. “What the hell is that whore doing in there?”
I crouched just beyond the tree line, staring at the house glowing in the dark. Noah’s sister’s car sat in the driveway, and another unfamiliar one beside it—probably that other leech he lets get close. The night air bit into my skin, freezing the sweat that clung to me.
“Should’ve brought a jacket,” I muttered, arms wrapping around myself. “God, I’m so fucking stupid.”
My breath shivered out of me in little white clouds. Every light in the house felt like a spotlight on my obsession. I couldn’t see him through the windows, but I could feel him in there. Close. Safe. Loved by someone else.
“Wait—what am I even doing here?” My voice cracked into a whisper, disgust curling in my stomach. “I’m not going to… no. I can’t. Not yet.”
My fingers curled into fists, nails digging hard enough to hurt.
“Too risky. Plus those two psycho goddesses of his?” I swallowed. Just thinking about them made my pulse stutter. “They’d rip me to fucking shreds without blinking.”
The wind hissed through the trees, and something cold slithered down my spine—fear or excitement, I couldn’t tell. My heart hammered, urging me to run, urging me to stay.
I backed away slowly, step by step, deeper into the black of the woods.
The lights of the house shrank behind the trees. My body vanished into the darkness like a ghost, like I was dissolving into dirt.
Gone.
Just another small, pathetic ant crawling in their world.
But I’ll be back.
Soon.
“Thank you for having us, Liz. I really enjoyed your company—you’re a fantastic person. Bella’s lucky to have a mother like you.” Elara said warmly, her hands tucked into her coat pockets as we stood outside the house. The door light above us hummed, casting a soft yellow glow across the driveway.
“Oh, don’t say that,” Liz waved a hand, though her eyes shimmered with emotion. “I’m not the best mom. I’ve done a lot of bad things in my time… but I’m different now.” She glanced at Bella, her expression softening into something fragile and honest.
Bella leaned against me slightly, her arm brushing mine.
“Come back soon, okay? And Bella—come by tomorrow and grab your things, so you can live with them happily,” Liz said, brushing a stray hair from her daughter’s face.
“Meanwhile, I’ll be waiting until Elara buys that big mansion for all of us.” Her smile widened hopefully, and Elara chuckled, nodding like she could already picture it.
“We will, Ma—promise.” Bella wrapped her arms around her, holding tight. “Love you.”
“Love you too.” Liz whispered into her hair, squeezing tightly before stepping back and watching us walk toward the car. She stood there, arms folded over herself, waving as we pulled away.
The road stretched dark and empty ahead of us, only the headlights carving space through the quiet night. I watched Liz shrink smaller and smaller through the rear window, a strange heaviness in my chest.
“You’re mom is really cool,” Elara said after a few seconds, her voice breaking the silence. She relaxed into the seat, one hand on the wheel. “The fact she served in the military? That’s badass as hell.”
Bella smiled faintly from the backseat. “Yeah, Mom’s a character for sure.”
For a while, none of us spoke. The only sound was the hum of the engine and the occasional whoosh of passing cars. The silence wasn’t uncomfortable—just peaceful, a kind of shared warmth after a good night.
Then Bella leaned forward between the seats, chin resting on her hand.
“Hey… can we stop at Krispy Kreme? I want donuts,” she asked, voice playful and small, like a child asking for candy.
We rolled up to a red light, the car slowing to a stop. The glow from the traffic signal splashed red across Elara’s face, and I watched her eyes widen in sudden realization.
“Fuck. Me too.” She laughed, slapping the steering wheel lightly. “Alright then—night donuts. And we’ll get extra for breakfast.”
She flicked on the blinker and turned toward the shop, the neon green sign already visible in the distance. The warm lights of the storefront glowed like a lighthouse in the dark.
Bella clapped her hands together softly.
“Best idea ever.”
I leaned back in my seat, smiling. Life felt so simple—so stupidly perfect.