Chapter 1

I let out a breath as I shouldered my bag, untucking my ebony hair from under the strap. Giving my professor a wave, I said, "See ya, Charles. You have a good weekend with your wife, yeah?" I added with a grin. He waved back and nodded an affirmative before I made it out the door. Again, I let out a breath. I had been feeling antsy lately, and I didn't like it. It was like something was crawling under my skin, tiny sparks of electricity that didn't go away. Grandpa had even noticed.

Shaking my head, I shook the feeling off as best as I could. "I'll check the augaries when I'm home... Grandpa can help, his energy always makes it go better," I murmured, getting into my car.

Before I could even turn the ignition, my phone began vibrating and ringing, the familiar tune of 'Megitsune' filling my silver Beetle. I dug it out of my pocket and quirked my brow at the caller ID. "Why would Aunt Laura be calling...?"

Never the less, I answered. "Hi Auntie; what's up? You hardly ever call," I teased lightly.

She was quiet on the other end, but small sniffles and harsh breathing could be heard. I immediately tensed up. "Auntie? What is it? What happened? Is Mika okay?!"

"N-no, sweetie, it's not Mika..." she finally said, her voice a bit raw. "Are you sitting down, dear...?"

"Yeah, I'm still in the parking lot on campus in my car; Auntie, what's going on? You're starting to scare me," I replied, my voice shaking almost as badly as my hands.

"Oh honey... your grandfather... he's passed away."

At that moment, the tingling under my skin stopped and my entire body froze. My light green eyes filled with tears, and my heart broke into a million pieces. "What?" I choked out.

"H-he just... fell while he was volunteering at the hospital," Aunt Laura went on. "They say it was a heart attack..."

I tried to control my breathing; the magic coursing in my blood rushed in my ears and I didn't want to blow up anything. "I-I see... U-uhm, does Mika know...?"

"We just called the school and we're about to pick her up," she answered. After a moment, she asked, "Do you need your uncle and I to come and get you? We don't want you to get into an accident driving in the state you're in."

I closed my eyes and let my tears fall freely. "N-no, I'll be okay..."

In the background, I heard my Uncle David say, "Tell her about the funeral."

"Huh? Funeral?" I asked, slightly confused.

"Oh, yes... Your uncle wants to have the funeral later this evening..." Aunt Laura sounded a bit miffed, and I didn't blame her. I was a bit mad myself.

"Already?! But... what about a wake? A memorial? What about the house? Will I need to move somewhere else?"

I was panicking terribly. I had lived with Grandpa Anderson since I was twelve; my parents had passed away in a plane crash on their way to India. They had stipulated in their wills that I was to go and live with him in his mansion. He had helped me heal, and I had helped him. After all, aside from my Uncle David, my dad was his only other child. And since Uncle David wasn't on good terms with Grandpa... My dad was basically the only child who acted like they loved him.

"Don't you worry, Serenity, you won't have to move," Aunt Laura answered calmly. She murmured to Uncle David for a bit, apparently covering the phone so I wouldn't hear. When she got back on, she sighed. "We'll see you at the funeral, Serenity. It is scheduled for six at the cemetery a few minutes away from the mansion."

"Y-yeah... okay..." I mumbled. I hung up and dropped my phone onto the passenger seat. After just sitting there in silence for a moment, I let out a wail and proceeded to sob, placing my head in my hands. I don't know how long I sat there, just crying, but I eventually calmed down enough where I would be able to drive.

Wiping my face, I turned my key and let the low rumble roll through me. Gripping the wheel, I pulled out of the parking spot I'd claimed and drove home in a half-daze. When I pulled up to the mansion that I'd been calling home for a little over eight years, I felt my throat close up in grief.

It won't be the same anymore, I thought to myself, getting out and heading to unlock the door. Stepping inside, I looked around and felt unnerved by how... empty it truly felt now. Far too quiet. None of Grandpa's light humming or steady footsteps, no smell of pie baking in the kitchen.

I shivered, making my way upstairs to my room. Opening my closet, I mindlessly dug out a feminine black dress that Grandpa had once said made me look like a doll. Quickly getting undressed and slipping it on, I went to my vanity and winced at my reflection. My wavy hair was bedraggled, my light green eyes bloodshot; even my skin seemed paler and even sallow-looking.

I sighed, then picked up my brush to tame the disaster that was my hair. I glimpsed at my left arm, allowing myself a rueful smile. Uncle David is probably going to have a small seizure when he sees this, she thought with a hollow chuckle. My newly completed tattoo sleeve was still healing from my final appointment at the parlor three weeks ago. Swirling tentacles, Latin phrases, waves, flowers, feathers, and Celtic knots combined together to create not just a piece of art, but a very strong protection and focusing spell. However, the one detail that stood out the most was the small, adorable teddy bear with a heart on its stomach at my inner wrist.

Shaking my head clear, I went back to mindlessly getting ready for my grandfather's funeral. I frowned, biting my lip as I got into my car. I hope Mika is okay... I'll see if she'd like to spend the weekend with me, I mused. I know she loved Grandpa as much as I did and would probably rather be away from Uncle David for a couple days...

Pulling into the cemetery, I frowned when rain began to fall. I smirked a little, grabbing the umbrella I always stashed in my glove compartment. It was poetic, almost... As if Mother Earth was weeping alongside us at his loss. I took comfort in that thought; if anyone deserved Her respect, it was my Grandpa.

I walked towards the small-ish gathering of black-clad mourners, looking for my only cousin. When I spotted her, I quickened my pace and stepped up beside her. "Hey," I murmured, looking down at her.

Mika seemed to come out of a daze and looked up at me, blinking a couple times before registering who I was. Giving me a small, sad smile, she replied, "Hi Serenity..."

My aunt and uncle finally realized I was there and looked at me. "Hello, dear," my aunt greeted quietly.

"Hi Auntie," I replied. I glanced behind her and gave my uncle a small smile. "Hi Uncle David..."

He gave me a stiff nod, his gaze flickering between my sleeve and my face. I gave him a measured look, raising my eyebrow. Don't even say a word, uncle, I thought to myself. Not right now. Later, if you're so keen on it, but not now.

He seemed to understand what I was saying with my eyes, sighing a bit and shaking his head. "Let's just get this over with..."

Even if he hadn't been on the best of terms with Grandpa, I could tell part of him was hurting just as badly as Mika and I were. I turned my head as the preacher began the service, and lost myself in thought. Halfway through the man's droning, I felt a cold had take my own. My lips trembled and I gave the hand a squeeze, glancing down at Mika in understanding.

We held hands for the rest of the service, even walking together to place our handfuls of dirt into the grave. However, as I tossed mine in, I cast a preservation spell, so that his body would never have to suffer the indignity of rotting away into dust. Since we were the last two to walk up to the grave, the undertaker began to refill the hole.

As he did so, Mika and I looked at our grandfather's headstone; in the background, I could hear everyone leaving. 'Harold Anderson - Forever in our Hearts', it said. I frowned at the slab of plain marble. "...it's too simple," I muttered, gripping Mika's hand a bit tighter.

I heard her nod. "Yeah... there should be toys on it, more... whimsy," she whispered.

We were interrupted as a man with a briefcase walked up to the two of us, my aunt and uncle coming over as well. He cleared his throat, and began pulling out a few documents.

"Hello; you all have my deepest condolences. I was Mr. Anderson's lawyer," he greeted. Clearing his throat, he looked down at the topmost sheet of paper he held. "And now, I shall read Harold Anderson's last will and testament."

I furrowed my brow; Grandpa had never mentioned a will to me before at all.

I listened as the lawyer listed off items that he had left to charities and to us, his family. For my aunt, Grandpa had left her some of his cook books. For my uncle, he had left him some of his more valuable goods, like a few paintings and the family grandfather clock that my grandfather's grandfather had gifted him.

Finally, the lawyer looked at Mika and I. "And to my dearest granddaughters, I give my estate. All the furniture and hitherto unclaimed decor shall also be given to my granddaughters."

I was surprised; I figured he may have left the mansion to me since I had lived there for so long, but I had to admit to being a bit shocked that he had added Mika as well. However, thinking on it more, I wasn't surprised after all. At least I wouldn't be alone, and neither would she. Mika would have room to breathe and someone to look after her in the same way he did, and I wouldn't have to deal with being lonely and cold in an empty mansion.

"...What?" Mika asked, her eyes wide. She glanced up at me and I shrugged, shaking my head at her silent question.

"I had no idea," I muttered to her.

"So he passed the family estate to the girls... Why am I not surprised?" drawled my uncle. I turned to him and shot him a warning glare. The muscles in his jaw clenched, but he seemed to back off a bit. He knew not to piss me off; uncle or not, I did not take kindly to his superiority complex, and he knew that.

He turned his attention back to the lawyer. "Well, did he say anything about what will become of the CEO and Chairman position at Anderson Toys Company?"

The lawyer shook his head. "No. It is presumed that the Vice Chairman will succeed the position."

"Heh... even to the bitter end he wouldn't give in. What a stubborn old man," Uncle David bit out.

I opened my mouth to say something, but Aunt Laura beat me to it. "David!" she whispered harshly, looking at Mika and I. I glared at him once more, this time more harshly.

He scoffed quietly, then looked at his wife. "About the estate... should we send Mika to live with Serenity so she can get used to the building? It'll be a good place for her to live after high school."

Aunt Laura glanced at me before answering. "Are you sure we should?" Looking at me again, she asked, "Would you be alright with that, honey?"

I nodded. "Yes... It already feels too... empty in there," I confessed. Mika gave my hand a squeeze, and I shot her a thankful smile.

"Why not? This will be a good experience for her. And Serenity can watch over her and keep her company; and also help her apply for the college." Uncle David shot me a look that warned me that I'd better do what he said, at least this time.

I had no problems with this request; I was planning on doing all of that already. "If she wants me to, I can help her," I said.

Aunt Laura looked at Mika, who had thus far remained silent. "Honey, what do you think?"

My younger cousin looked up at me, almost seeming to have X-ray vision. After a moment, she looked back at her parents. "I'll be okay with that. I don't want Serenity to be lonely."

My heart warmed at her words, feeling so much better already. Truthfully, Mika felt more like a younger sister than a cousin sometimes. I always looked after her and now, it seemed, she was going to return the favor by taking care of me when I needed it most.

"Well, that seems to be it." Uncle David's voice snapped me out of my pleasant reverie. He looked at me with a level gaze. "We'll be taking our leave now; I'm sure both of you young heiresses need time to adjust."

I felt my magic tickle my fingertip as I openly glared at him, livid. "Not one more word, uncle," I said calmly. "If you say anything more, I will not be held responsible for what my reaction will be. Go. I'll pick her up from school tomorrow and bring her to grab her things, then I'll bring her home."

He returned my glare, but gave in and turned with a 'hmph,' walking back to his car. I relaxed a bit and Mika gave me a one-armed hug as Aunt Laura frowned at us.

"I'm sorry, dears; I don't know what his problem is anymore," she confessed, sounding far too worn out. Looking her over more carefully, I could detect wrinkles and lines that hadn't been on her face the last time I had really looked at her.

I let go of Mika and hugged my aunt close, giving her a reassuring squeeze. "It'll be okay, Auntie; he doesn't bother me anymore. I'm twenty years old, gosh darn it, and he needs to learn that not everyone is going to just do what he tells them or put up with his attitude."

I pulled back a bit, looking her in the eyes. "Auntie, if you ever need to get away from the stress... the mansion is always open for you," I said quietly, hoping to convey the seriousness of my words.

She seemed to understand what I was saying as she gave me a small smile and nodded. "Thank you, dear..."

I bid goodbye to both of them and walked back to my Beetle. Getting in, I began to mentally go over what I needed to get ready for Mika's arrival tomorrow. I didn't have any classes until half past noon, so I had the whole morning to get a room set up for her.

With that plan all set, I focused on getting back home, my stomach grumbling from the lack of dinner. As I idly wondered what leftovers were available in the fridge, I couldn't help but feel like something more was going to happen. And I just couldn't shake it.

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AN: A new story that just spewed out of me with no control. I know I have other fics that are still in progress; however, I am abandoning my older ones. I have no inspiration for them anymore, nor can I even dredge up the energy to return to them. At least, for now. I may finish my Ouran Host Club fic, but my Black Butler fic is now officially done with. Maybe a few years from now I'll get back to it, but not now.

I hope you all enjoy this new story, though. Seduce Me is one of my all-time favorite otome games, and Michaela Laws is an amazing writer. Definitely go and get Seduce Me 2: The Demon War if you haven't already (I gotta wait till my tax return comes tho, ughhh). From the looks of the demo, though, the second game is going to be EPIC.

~Chrissy )O(