Page 79 of Raijin

“Now, let’s eat before we go to the park.”

“Yay.” Releasing a scream of victory, Kahlia jumped up from the couch, and ran over to the table.

Sabina couldn’t help feeling happiness at the simplicity of their day. She could pretend she didn’t have the thorns on her wrist. She could pretend that she hadn’t been cursed and that there weren’t guards standing unseen outside of her sister’s house. Almost, she thought as her eyes spotted the one name Malcolm through the window as he walked to one of his men and seemed to be giving out a command. Her hands tightened for a second on the pan, before she lowered it to the table

She wasn’t sure why she cared if Rajin was there or not, but something about his obvious absence rankled. Which wasn’t fair. She wasn’t the one who’d asked to be made a secret keeper. She would have been far happier being left alone, and living her life as best as she could.

On that thought, she took a seat and grabbing Kahlia’s bowl she spooned in some soup. Setting it down before her daughter, she warned her it was hot before she grabbed one of the two grilled sandwiches and laid it on the flat plate near her daughter’s bowl. “Remember to blow.”

“Yes,” Kahlia said brightly, as she proceeded to blow hard, some of the soup splattering on the table. She let out a small gasp of surprise. Sabina copied her, both of them staring at the small mess. Releasing a playful gust of air, Sabina lifted her hand and twitched two fingers in the air, the little spot of tomato sauce floated up.

“Let’s try to blow softer, huh baby.”

Giggling, Kahlia nodded profusely. “Yes, mommy.”

Giving her a wink, she flicked her fingers letting the splatters fly to the garbage.

“Now, tell me what you did yesterday at class.”

* * *

Finishedwith dinner the two walked hands in hand down the sidewalk toward a local park that was a block away. As they walked, Sabina took in the changes of the neighborhood. Another bar had been opened close to the subway that came through their block as well as another coffee shop.

The air was pleasant even as the outer shield of Veil City turned a bright orange, mirroring the color of the afternoon sun. Watching the few witches and Beings passing by her mind drifted back to when she’d been a young witch fresh to the Veil City.

Lanias had been so sure their dreams would come true. She smiled at the memory, of them sharing an apartment and surviving off ramen and weird rice balls that the Asian restaurant beneath their apartment sold. Now she was walking down the street of a nice neighborhood, holding her daughters’ hand it would all be so great, if she could ignore the fact she was being watched.

She couldn’t feel happier, even with her thoughts of a certain ogre. Still, she enjoyed the bit of normal in her life.

“Mom look,” She turned her attention from the other sidewalk, to see a few children squatting around little fireworks. “Hurry mom.”

“Slow down,” Sabina called, running after her daughter. They stopped outside the ring of children, who held onto the sparklers. One child, with a long red bushy tail looked up at Kahlia.

“Want one?”

Kahlia looked from him to Sabina, who gave a small nod. “Go ahead.” Letting go of her hand, Kahlia reached out taking it.

“How do you start it?” she asked.

The boy grinned, holding up his own, “Magic.”

Kahlia turned hers upside down, and held it tightly. Making a grunting sound, she blew her cheeks out, her eyes squeezing shut to make the stick sparkle. Taking pity on her, Sabina leaned forward and tapped the edge. “Here.”

Kahlia jaw dropped, as she watched the tip explode in a riot of colors. Her eyes wide, she turned it up to Sabina, “Look.” She exclaimed, grinning infectiously.

Magic. It had once been a curse to her, but for her daughter it was something fascinating.

Watching her daughter join the circle of children giggling and laughing about their sparklers. She crossed her arms, “maybe, being not so normal is fine.” She muttered aloud.

She watched them when something caused her to look up. Standing on the other side of the park, a figure she knew all too well met her gaze before they grinned and disappeared.

As if in slow motion, she turned around lifting her arm she quickly built up a barrier. The person rod slammed into it causing her to slide back. The children behind her released a collective cry of surprise. She winced; her own eyes squinting as she stared into the fiery eyes of the Cambion demon before her.

“Mom.”

Kahlias scream had her tensing, she looked away from the demon to see her daughter held in the grip of a second attacker. He pressed his sharp claws into Kahlias neck.

“Kahlia.” She screamed.

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