Chapter 18

I was laughing so hard and stupidly tried to take a drink while calming myself down. I thought I had some composure, but I looked up and made direct eye contact with Catto and then ended up choking and having it come out my nose. In response, Ghirahim busted out and tried to get control of himself while he roared with laughter. We were all laughing loudly and it echoed throughout the kitchen where we sat and ate. I forget what exactly set us all off, but had been constantly making sarcastic remarks and witty jokes the whole mean. We were trapped in a situation that was funny just because of the tension and dynamic.

"I can't remember the last time I laughed like this," Catto said through some deep breaths.

"I mean you can barely remember what you ate for breakfast so it's not surprising." Ghirahim chuckled while reaching for his cup. He watched as Catto immediately stop laughing and her face fell, unamused. Her over sensitive reaction made him quickly spit his drink back into his cup so he wouldn't choke. And I also joined him with cracking up again.

"Care to explain. Because I don't get it." She said seriously.

"I kid." Ghirahim retracted. "Catto, you have some of the best memory out of the three of us. Trust me... you never forget anything." He emphasized his tone to indicate the hidden message. She still was very insulted.

"I would like to think that I'm not like the two of you." She defended herself. "I try to move forward as much as possible." She crossed her arms and avoided eye contact.

"Catto, no one was intending for you to take it this seriously," I interjected. She rolled her eyes. Woah, seemed a bit aggressive from her. "It's just a joke."

"Yeah, a joke that wasn't funny. I was still insulted, the least you could do is apologize." She barked. Ghirahim and I looked at each other knowing damn well neither of us was going to do that. I quickly stood up ready to completely abandon the conversation and go to my room, but Ghirahim was also out of his chair. It was uncomfortable how similar our minds were at this very moment. We just stared at each other frozen without a word. Our little contest ended when we heard a loud snort then turned into a hysterical laughed.

Catto had her arms over her stomach and was trying to breathe through her giggling. She set up this uncomfortable situation.

"Twerp," Ghirahim grumbled, but he was amused by how happy she looked. He walked to her side of the table and roughly rubbed her head with his hand. Her hair tangled all up in her curls which just made her laugh some more. She tried to push him away but he overpowered her. He quickly stopped and helped her stand to her feet. She was noticeably pregnant now. She well into her third trimester and her stomach consumed her. I didn't think it could get much larger than it was. I couldn't imagine what it might be when it's time for the baby.

"Akomin, can you clean up dinner." She asked politely. I nodded my head and began to collect the dishes to take to the sink. Ghirahim walked out with her, but before he closed the door he turned back to me.

"You've been doing well in training. Come to the bedroom when you're done and we are going to try something." He instructed with a small wink. I didn't know what that meant. I was honestly very taken aback. However, I just nodded and began to wash some of the dishes.

We had started working hard on training again. This time Ghirahim was a bit more open to my learning needs and keeping my lessons very progressive. I was becoming his equal in many magical topics and I could tell he didn't want to admit it. I also had a deeper unlocked power and understanding after my battle with Demise.

On top of that, Catto started cooking and gardening regularly again. She wanted dinners every night even though two of the three of us don't need to eat. She also wanted more individual time with me. She started reading her old journal from when she first arrived and I learned details about where she came from and how she got here. She was also able to translate the pages I couldn't understand originally when I tried to snoop through them.

I was happy where I was. I didn't feel as out of place in my relationship with my father. While he is not my dad or my role model in any way, he has shaped up to be a decent friend who also happens to be my dad. Considering the three of us were within the same five years of maturity, I don't think I could get much of a different relationship out of him.

I put the rest of the dishes away and walked down the sunset-lit hall towards the master bedroom. Ghirahim was messing with some sort of magic in his corner of the room and Catto sat at the end of the bed. She smiled up at me and I smiled back. She patted on the bed next to her and I walked forward to take a seat. I didn't understand what was about to happen. Very rarely am I invited into the bedroom, especially by Ghirahim. I normally just come in on my own accord. Was there something I was missing?

"I am showing you how to use a host body and gain a secondary form," Ghirahim spoke up right after I got comfortable. "You will need to stand up and come over." I irritatedly did as I was told since I just sat down.

"I was born into the form I had before. Will I look the same or have it be as strong?" I questioned. He was busy messing through his desk for something. He then pulled out the vial of blood he used before.

"I am hoping that if we use Catto's blood then, yes." He answered as he dripped two drops into his dish. He continued with the process I watched him do several months ago when he transformed into his humanoid form. I inspected his movements and mumbles under his breath. I took in as much as I could before he relaxed and dipped his finger in the blood. He dapped it on his chest crystal and went to the closet immediately afterward. A few moments later he came out fully clothed and back to looking like normal, but his hair was long and messy yet again.

"After the enchantment, you must put it on the source of your soul." He instructed. I nodded and then realized something very important.

"I don't have a chest thingy," I explained.

"You don't need a physical opening to the soul as I do. I only have this because my master opened this window to my soul to make me more obedient towards him." He lectured. "Most demons have their souls concentrated on the nape of their necks. However, I have a feeling yours is elsewhere." He walked up to me and gently grabbed my hand with his. "You are right-handed, correct?" He asked.

"Um, no. left actually." I corrected. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my other hand. He reached over to the basin and dabbed the last drop of blood onto the back of my hand. It slowly seeped into my skin. I felt my body lighten and begin to change. I felt myself shrink slightly and my skin faded back to a pasty pale. "Now, you must hurry before its complete because you will-" I yelped and jumped away when I noticed that I most definitely looked human again. Nipples and breasts became more defined and soon enough I was completely naked. I covered myself and turned away to hide behind the bed on the floor. As I crouched there, hidden, the last thing to change was my hair. It grew significantly and fell down my shoulders. It was back to the wavy, messy, white it was before, so suppose it did work like planned. Ghirahim seemed frustrated and held his eyes shut. Catto giggled to herself while she got up to one of the dressers in the room. She pulled out a towel and handed it to me while looking away slightly.

"Ok, I'm covered. I headed back to my room the get changed." I jabbered as I quickly headed towards the door.

"Not that I wouldn't love for that to happen but there is another matter that needs to be discussed before the night is over." Ghirahim insisted as he turned back to look at me, however, he avoided eye contact.

"Ok, can you make it quick-"

"We are moving." He stated. I cocked my head confused.

"Moving?" I repeated.

"With the final weeks of the pregnancy arriving, it would be best if we returned to Lanayru where we can live with the rest of the demons. I contacted the council-"

"Will it be safe?" I asked. They both nodded. "Then I don't have a problem with that. Why didn't we do it sooner?"

"I've had a difficult relationship with the parliament that runs the government there. While I still have full authority and rule over the people, I admittedly neglected to maintain my duties and provide for them over the past seventeen years. Instead of balancing my duties as the servant of my master and the sovereignty he left for me, I did them a favor and let them advance without me." He explained but Catto's face looked towards him in annoyance.

"They didn't like me." She clarified.

"When will this all be happening?"

"The week of my due date." She answered. "So in three weeks."

"Fine by me." I shrugged. That seemed to be all that they had for me. It was an interesting proposal, but at least I get to meet the other demons of the world. "I am going to go get dressed for bed and get some rest."

"Goodnight, sweet dreams." Catto hummed. I looked over towards Ghirahim and gave a bland smile.

"Have a good night." He spurted out quickly. I was taken aback, he hadn't genuinely wished me goodnight before.

"Goodnight," I responded. I headed out of their room and towards mine. I wanted some clothes on after all that.

I opened my door and my curtains were blowing around rapidly. Someone left the doors open to the balcony again so I began to walk over. I quickly regretted it when I felt something slice through my foot. I hissed in pain and hopped towards my bed. I sad down and strained my eyes to look at what was in my foot. It was very dark and it took some maneuvering to see the shimmer of broken glass reflect in my foot. I pulled it out gently and placed the piece on my nightstand. I looked back towards the balcony and realized that the curtains weren't blowing from the doors being open, but from all the windows being shattered. My bedroom was covered in glass, I was lucky to only have gotten away with one foot getting sliced. I raised my hand and used some power to put the windows back together and clean up all the glass. It was strange that all of them shattered. It seemed intentional. No one was supposed to see or access the house beside us, so the only logical explanation is that the wind must have blown a branch or something into them. Or maybe a bird or animal flew into them and escaped.

At least it was cleaned up. I looked down at my foot and dark red oozed from the cut. My bond with this body is just as strong as the last one. I won't have to worry about it shattering easily. It is just a shame I have to clean up the blood and take care of my foot until it gets better now. It's a minor set back, if we are moving I am sure it won't even matter much. We will be safe, not like I am battling anyone anymore. I could tell that Ghirahim and Catto were starting to stress now that the last few weeks were arriving. It's best I didn't bring this up until after the move and the baby, especially if it could just be nothing.

I hope everyone had a happy 4th of July. Even if you're not from America and it was just a normal July 4th for you, I hope it was still good. Please continue to favorite, follow, and review if you can. I really appreciate the support and it helps me know what ya'll like so I can continue to write.

-Iris

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