We Dream of Hope

Offering an Explanation

“So,” Sera started her interrogation light and bubbly, she knew how Nadia and Aidan met, but she was eager to hear what Nadia thought about her secret ally. “Tell me, honestly, what’d you think? Adorable right? I mean he tries hard to fight being a demon, he’s been kind of running this since dear daddy left him. He’s been highly against the demons and completely for human rights. I’ve gotten to know him pretty well, if you need any pointers I’m your wolf.”

“Pointers?” Nadia looked at her concerned with how quick she was to shift the conversation to her favor. 

She winked and giggled through her booming smile. Odion rolled his eyes but Nadia was interested, she knew very little aside from his very forward etiquette, so she was curious, but she didn’t want Maat to know how curious. “He’s nice, don’t get me wrong, but he’s such a dreamer. He just rambles off such uncouth and refined fury of emotions.”

“Dreamer?” Sera chuckled, “He fills his head with poetry to lighten his mood, he can’t help it coming out when he’s nervous. He might be the wrath demon, but trust me, he's been digging into lustful intentions as of late if you catch my drift.” she winked and her subtlety was more prominent as the sun at high noon. 

“Wait, he made a pass at you?” Ma’at turned around fully caught up on the demon’s intentions and suddenly was thinking of new ways to castrate living animals for maximum pain achievable. “I’ll shank the swagger out of that troll!”

Nadia turned red and held her hands to her face, “It’s not like that. He was just messing around, besides, I don’t like rude people. He was too brash for my taste.”

Neither of them bought it, the girl was smitten. Sera worried if she fell for some add-libed poetry and a cute smile she needed to be exposed to some men. Years of living in a tent were not kind to her social skills. “First, get this through your head, he’s a half demon, but still is a demon. I trust him as far as I can throw him and for me that’s far, but for you not so much. Stay on your toes or I will put the fear of death and pain in that boy and you too little missy.” She wagged a finger in Nadia’s face shaming the schmaltzy child before her. 

“He’s not going to be hanging around!” Ma’at tried, but she just couldn’t get behind the thought of him becoming a permanent fixture in this group. She was just beginning to get used to the usual crowd, too soon to add another body and one so controversial.

“I’m sure he’s got better things to do than pine after Nadia.” Sera giggled, but with a hint of uncertainty lingered as a tail.

Nadia shook her head still uncomfortable with the thought of him wooing her, “Maybe for now we can not talk about this. He’s not interested, he can’t seem to treat me with respect anyway.” 

“Keep talking yourself out of it honey, you’ll convince yourself eventually.” Sera could read her like a book, but to Nadia’s credit she was trying to ease back. It was an emotional day for her. Aidan did a great job at getting her mind off Hope, but he was a bandaid. Nadia was going to pick at it and return back to being on edge in no time. She deserved to have someone look at her with more than just a desire to protect her. “Honestly, I know him pretty well. He was just a little fella when his dad left him, lots to prove no one to see it. He was pretty lost and it’s a bit of a relief for him to be so playful. It’ll do him some good.”

“So Lucifer is gone then?” Ma’at looked around trying to see if his presence was still creeping through the woodwork of the shacks. It was a bonus that she could end the conversation about the blasted demon.

“He left shortly after you were sold, so I’m told. Then I scurried in shortly after and kind of influenced Aidan a bit to seek out expressing his human side more. So far I’m liking the results, but it’s hard for him.”

“Do you know where he went?” Still searching Ma’at touched the ground and dug her fingers deep into the dirt.

“No, but I can guess it was far away. His presence hasn’t been felt here in a long time, and other demons have tried to assert themselves, those who get out of control Aidan kindly tells me about and I go out and knock them down. It’s turned into a pretty nice gig plus, we have to keep Aidan alive.” Sera stared intense at them “We can’t kill Aidan. Right now there are ancient forces at play that, long story short, stops Lucifer from having any other children. You know that curse I was talking about earlier? Well when it concerns the wrath child, well let’s just say that we won’t have to worry about another Wrath Demon as long as Aidan is alive. HOWEVER!” She bounded back making sure that this next part had everyone’s attention and firmly engraved in their minds, “If he dies a certain way then bam! Lucy gets that do-over and that is something we cannot afford. Right now I’ve got the most powerful fighter Lucifer could spawn reading and writing poetry if you honestly think we could have it better you would be flat dumb-faced wrong!” 

Ma’at wanted to fight it but gave it a second thought. There would be a time and place and right now she needed as much time as she could to learn from Sera. She was a profound fighter and Maat had to admire how much she could get done. With more time to train, eventually, she would be strong enough to take on a demon and when that came Aidan the place holder would find his usefulness worn out. “Can we just ease off on the demon talk? Honestly, it’s giving me a headache.”

Sera nodded and then got an idea, “Come on, We need you two to learn to fight. You’re wasted on this talking.” Sera clapped her hands, “Perfect! So, your first lesson, we'll play hide and seek.”

They all looked at her like she had three heads, none of them were children anymore this game was far below them. 

“Hear me out! So we all hide, but we are all also seeking. The trick is don't get caught. Right now you guys think the best thing to do is fight, but come on you need to be able to avoid just as much if not more. So we all hide,” she glared at them, “then Nadia will call out for us to start finding each other. The one who is last to be found wins.”

“I don’t get to play?” Nadia was sort of happy, she couldn’t be as elusive as the others, but it could have been fun.

Sera patted her on the shoulder, “Sorry dear, you wouldn’t be very good at this game. Besides, we need a judge.” she held up a finger warning testing the waters for anticipation for an upcoming battle, “Now, we hide. Nadia once you can’t see us, let us loose. No funny business now. Standard tackle and you’re out. If you can’t tackle then run off, once you’re pinned you’re out!” Sera tucked herself low ready to sprint off and the rest followed. 

“Okay guys, Go!” Nadia called it out and quickly they ran forth. Ma’at was the last out of sight, but she kept an eye on where the others went. She was the only one lacking a heightened sense of smell so her battle planning was going to have to carry her. Nadia bet that Sera was going to win, but she hoped Maat or Odion could at least survive for a little while to make it interesting.