Darkness Rising: Cursed Guardians

Cooking

Looking in the mirror I didn't even recognize myself. I had blood everywhere and yet miraculously my hair was still intact just as Cass had left it. I grinned and made a note to tell Cass when I got done showering. As Mia had said everything I needed was already in the bathroom. I turned on the shower as hot as I could then stepped in and turned into an instant lobster. I stood under the water and watched as more blood than I care to think about ran from my body down to the drain. After the water stopped streaming red I grabbed the soap and began to scrub with reckless abandon. When my I was sure further scrubbing would take skin off the bone I rinsed then began shampoo then condition. I got out of the shower and dried off. After looking through a few drawers I found a brush and began working the knots from my hair and then braided it to the side. There was a bottle of lotion on the counter by the sink so I slathered some on and did the same with the face cream. 

Mia was right about the scrubs, at least the bottoms. They were huge but had a draw string so I tightened them as much as I could so they didn't fall off. Everything else was okay, even the sports bra she found for me. I definitely needed to thank her again. After getting dressed I went back into the bedroom to find everyone gone. I went to the bedside and looked down at my friend. Her color was already improving. Thank you baby Jesus! Since the bed was huge I laid down beside her, turning on my side I started talking to her again.

"Well it would appear my dearest that whatever the Grace ladies did between the salve and the chanting is working. You already have some of your gorgeous skin color back. FYI pasty white is not a good look for you. Let's just leave that to me shall we? In light of your healing I've decided that I'll forgive you for A: Not listening, B: Getting your ass kicked, C: Getting my ass kicked, D: Losing my phone and keys, and E: Scaring the s**t out of me. I love you sweets and as I told Mr. Pissed Off you really are my best friend. I hadn't thought about until now but you are my best friend even though we haven't known each other very long." At that moment I'm not sure whose stomach made a noise first but both definetly made distinct grumbling sounds.

Getting off the bed I opened the door and closed it gently behind me. I made my way down the two flights of stairs and took in the beauty of the "House." There was marble everywhere accented with luxurious pieces of gold, bronze, silver, copper, and pewter. It was palatial. The bones of the house were old architecture. Like the exterior there were design aspects that screamed castle while others reflected a traditional European mansion. Even though the design was old school there were modern things everywhere. Electronic key pads, speakers systems with intercoms, and an electronic picture frame. When I got to the ground floor I wandered around looking into rooms seeing a massive flat panel tv with a crazy gaming  system set up and a billiard a room. After a few minutes I found the kitchen and nearly passed out.

The kitchen was massive with more ovens and burners than I had ever seen even in a commercial kitchen. One wall was nothing but 4 Sub Zero refrigerators and freezers. Pots and pans hung from hooks spaced throughout the room with utensils in jars next to the stoves. The island stretched the length of the huge room with work space, sinks, and stool for people to sit. I had a culinary organism. A door next to one of the Sub Zeros proved to be a pantry the size of a bedroom.

I opened one of the refrigerators and found several beef roasts. Immediately I knew what I was cooking. I placed my meat on the table and slowly gathered the rest of my supplies going from fridge to pantry and back ensuring I had everything I needed. After found a space of countertop that was a butcher block and began breaking down the meat. Given how many people I estimated in the house and the number of roasts I found there were a lot of people here so breaking down the meat into cubes took some time. I had just finished slicing a ton of onions I realized I had company in the kitchen.

Looking up I said "Hello. I'm Sabella. I brought Cass earlier."

The man or demon in actuality looked at me with a surprised looked and spoke slowly. "I remember you coming in. May I ask what it is you are doing?"

"Oh! Sorry. I was with Cass and her stomach started rumbling. Well mine did too honestly. Anyway, I figured when she woke up she'd be hungry and I'm starving so I thought I'd come down here and cook something. Besides when I'm stressed I cook." 

"I see. I shall have to insist on watching you then. This is my kitchen and I'll not have you preparing and serving something that could harm anyone."

I tilted my head and must have looked surprised. "Oh my goodness I never even thought anyone would think that. No I'm not trying to kill anyone but please do stay. Can I ask your name?"

"Harris." he said walking to my pots and examining them. As I cooked I made small talk with the demon who I could tell was impressed by my cooking but was still leery of me. He watched me very carefully and tasted everything. When everything was about ready I could hear people moving in our direction including ghosts. 

I'd have to contemplate the ghost situation later as Mr. Pissed Off appeared with his head down in a book. That was hot. Sexy and he liked to read. If only he wasn't so angry.

"What are you cooking that smells so insanely good Harris." he said as he was reading a book.

"Though I'd like to take credit sire it's not me, it's her." 

Mr. Pissed Off snapped his book shut and snapped his head up at the same time. Narrowing his eyes he started stomping towards me.

"What the f**k do you think your doing?"

"Cooking." I said casually as I was making my noodles.

At that moment a bunch of people arrived at the same time including the triplets.

"What is that amazing smell?" one of them asked.

"It's goulash. I also made mashed potatoes and if you give another few minutes the spaetzle will be ready." I was literally siving the spaetzle into the boiling water as I was talking.

Everyone looked at me.

"She didn't poison it. I've tasted everything myself." Harris said when he caught the expression on Mr. Pissed Offs face.

"I'm not one to waste good food by poisoning it. Beside considering how many different supernatural beings are in this place, picking the one poison that would effect everyone would be tricky considering that I don't even know what some of you are." I finished siving the noodles.

"Poison or not I'm eating. At least I'll die eating good food if I do die. Are you sure we can't keep her? declared the triplet.

Again with that shocked face. It took Harris tasting everything again before anyone would take any food. Mr. Pissed Off came and stood in front of me.

"I'd like a word in private. Go out into the hallway." 

"Can I at least grab a bowl of goulash to bring with me?" I asked pathetically.

"Fine."

I grabbed a bowl from a stack that had appeared on the island and served myself some spaetzle and goulash then went out into the hallway.

Mr. Pissed Off emerged after me and I followed him up to the second floor into an office. There were ornate statues of various supernatural creatures everywhere and a massive, beautiful desk that had dragons and wolves carved as legs. There were two others in the room when we arrived. One was the man whom I believed was related to Mr. Pissed Off and the other was a woman of serious beauty. She had the same beautiful skin as the two guys and eyes of a shimmering light green. Her hair was a darker shade of blonde than that of  Mr. Pissed Off but nearly identical to the other man. All this to accompany a thin, toned body that was currently wearing a skin tight black dress. What? I can appreciate a gorgeous female. Each stood on one side of the chair behind the desk where Mr. Pissed Off sat. I took a seat in one othe chairs in front of the desk and took a bite of my goulash. Yum.

The woman looked me over thoroughly. Speaking in a satiny voice she said "You are the one who brought Cassady home? The one who managed to surprise my unsurprising brother?"

"That'd be me." I ate some more goulash. I eat when I'm stressed. The glaring from the other guy was stressing me.

"Incredible. One so small and looking so... non threatening. I'm fascinated. You are not attached to anyone? A male or a female perhaps?"

"Abigale!" Both the guys bellowed.

"What? She fascinates me and she's easy on the eyes. Besides she managed to take you by surprise Draco." she said in a bored tone. “Not even Kaeleb and I have been able to do that since childhood” Kaeleb, aka the guy current boring holes into me, huffed.

I was shocked. Looking at her I said "Thank you. For the record I'm not attached. To anyone. I don't date." I reached back and rubbed between my shoulders. "Ever. I will say however, if I ever did decide to date again and I also switched teams you'd be my first stop."

She inclined her head to me. The other two dropped their jaws at my comment. With all these shocked looks I kept getting I was going to have to start keeping score. "Draco?" I asked c*****g my head to the side to look at him.

"You got a problem with my name?"

"No not at all. It's nice to know your name. I've been referring to you as Mr. Pissed Off in my head but now you are officially Puff the Magic Dragon." I smirked.

He snarled at me.

"Sticks and stones will break my bones but snarles will never scare me." I grinned while Abigale snickered.

"Here's the thing" I said "I realize that I'm going to die at some point so I kinda need to make two phone calls."

"Come again?" I just kept shocking everyone but the small gasp from Abigaile.

"I need to let my family know I'm not coming back and that they need to take care of my dogs and also to let my boss know I won't be coming back. He's probably already sent people looking for me since I never went back into the club. Besides it's not like your phones are going to be tracable. I've seen the serious electronics and security going on in here."

"Who's your boss?" Asked Dracos bother.

"Demetri Valkov. He owns Witches Brew and Cauldron." I said eating the rest of my goulash.

"You work for Demetri Valkov?" he said "not possible."

I sighed. "If you give me the phone I will dial his direct number. You can ask him yourself." 

Draco raised an eyebrow. He seemed to think a moment then tossed me a cordless phone. I started dialing. 

"Put it on speaker." he directed and I hit the speaker button.

"Hello." Demetri said in a voice that was both tired and angry.

"Demetri, it's Sabella."

"Sabella! My God where are you? What the f**k happened?" Tell me where you are and I'll come get you." He was angry and worried from the pitch of his voice.

Draco motioned for the phone.

"Demetri I'm fine. Hang on a second." I tossed the phone to Draco. Abigale have me a curious look as if she couldn't believe Demetri's reaction and that I did actually work for him. Kaeleb just looked mad. I could hear Demetri screaming it what sounded like Russian. Draco was getting angrier by the word and started yelling back in the same language. With a final word he hung up nearly crushing the phone.

"It appears your boyfriend wants you back." he snarled at me.

"He's not my boyfriend. I don't date. He's my boss and a very good friend."

At that moment the doors flew open with Cass hobbling through them followed by two other women. I jumped up tossed the empty bowl onto my chair and ran to Cass.

"Cass! Are you insane?! You need to be in bed. Turn your ass around and get back into bed!" I grabbed hold of her to steady her.

"Draco you can't kill her!" she shrieked as she swayed. 

The first woman behind her who was a blond version of Xena Warrior Princess approached the desk and addressed Draco. Seriously this lady of at least 6 feet was pure warrior in chain mail and leather with slightly pointed ears and a muscled body professional body builders would admire. "I agree with Cassady. This woman saved my daughters life. The Pixies are in her debt and pledge our protection to her."

"That's your mom!?" I looked from Cass to Xena. Crazy.

"I'm not going to kill her." 

Well that got my attention. I was ready to meet my maker. 

"Marcus said you were going to kill her and you can't."

"Cassady I'm not going to kill her."

"I've seen her."

"Cassady."

"Like seen, seen her. In visions. She's going to help us so you can't kill her she's..."

"Cassady!" Everyone bellowed at once. She stopped comprehension setting in.

 "Oh. Well that's good. She is supposed to be here. I've seen it. She's the one I've been seeing." Cass said still wobbling as I held her steady.

"Hold the phone. What do you mean you've seen me...in visions? You know the whole speech upstairs about me forgiving you for not listening to me, etc? I'm seriously thinking of revoking that due to you withholding information." I said giving her a pointed glare. "Lucy you got domes splaning to do!" I looked at her and waited.

"Well. Here's the thing. I'm a pixie as my Mother just declared. I've been having visions of you for a while now. Mind you my visions are limited. Very limited but always the same you helping us. You are supposed to be here."

"And how is a human supposed to help us?" asked the other woman. I got bad vibes from her. I could already tell we weren't going to be friends.

"She not a human she's a witch." Cass said simply and all hell broke loose.