Mag-log inAsh goes and runs the bath and Kai sits Eliza on the bed. She still feels weak and stupid, and oddly ugly. She hadn’t felt ugly in a long time, but now, she felt tarnished, broken in a way she’d never expected. Kai carefully strips her off and she dissociates from her body, letting them guide her into the bath, with Ash behind her and Kai washes her gently. She’s aware of what’s going on but it still feels distant. But when Ash reaches for her folds, she jumps and pulls his wrist away from her,
“No!” She stands up and gets out of the bath quickly, grabbing for the towel and covering herself. Kai stands up and reaches for her, “I’m sorry, I can’t. Not yet. It still feels like he’s in me, somehow. I don’t want him near you, or me. Gods, I feel like I’m infested or something.” Kai grips her firmly and pulls her into a hug.
“You’re not.” She grunts and thumps her fist against his chest, not hard, just in frustration. The tears start up again and she wails.
“I am. I’
“He has been feasting for days now. Won’t you say hello to your brood-mare, Husband?” Kai squints where Noemi is gesturing and sees Seth walking up to them, he kisses Noemi on the cheek.“Thank you, Wife. I know it took a lot of work to free my mind from that old corpse of mine. But I feel so much better now.” Eliza frowns,“So, he was never truly dead. But his body was beyond repair?” Seth, no, Dracula, looks at her and smiles.“Very clever… and pretty. A good choice of brood-mare, Wife.” Noemi bows her head to him and he lifts her chin. “Queens do not bow to anyone, not even their Kings.” She smiles and he kisses her again. “Gods, I’ve missed those lips, Noemi.” She almost blushes under his gaze, and he rounds on Eliza. “And you called her a ‘Bitch’?” Eliza nods,“I did, and I’d do it again. She wanted to murder my chil
Eliza feels their confusion at her not being in the bed with them, she links to them,‘There’s movement outside the house.’ Ash answers first,‘Noted. Where are you, Honey?’ She sees more movement by the front door and tucks herself further under the dining table to hide her movements and give herself cover if anyone should start anything before she was ready.‘Downstairs, crouching under the dining table as I get my weapons on. Wake everyone you can as quietly as possible. And no lights.’ She feels his agreement as Kai grumbles and starts to wake up properly.‘I’ll get Merlin first, we need to get the kids out of here ASAP.’ She nods,‘I love you both, Angel and Sweetie. Be careful.’ Ash chuckles,‘Says the woman about to go out and face whoever’s outside alone.’ She smirks,‘Hurry
Kai and Ash grin at Eliza who sighs,“Not that it matters, I’ll love them all with everything I have in me that isn’t yours.” She looks down at Leo, “You will never know what it is to lose your mum, or not have a dad, or go hungry, or be scared about what tomorrow might bring. I promise you; you will have the best life imaginable my little man.” She lifts him to her shoulder so she can grab the handrail to go back up to the main floor.They settle in the lounge, her with the children around her and a blanket around her shoulders so she can breastfeed while still strategising with the team. Jon and Jane on overwatch is the best move for them since she needs to pull Noemi apart with her hands for all she’s done to her and her men. She had made them cry, and that was not going to stand for much longer. Ash and Kai would go with her to the front door.Eddie, Merlin and Claire would go in from above. Meanwhile, Serena and Con
Merlin leads the way downstairs and Ash and Kai bring the kids and the changing bag with them as they follow them down. She shakes out her arms as Merlin adjusts the room and gives her some metal targets that are vaguely humanoid in shape. It now looks more like a target range and there’s space for her to work without getting the guys or kids too hot as long as she focuses away from them.She settles her nerves and calls fire into her palms. Merlin takes a seat near her guys with his notebook out and starts sketching. She tunes him out and listens to Callie, who was guiding her to make a larger ball of fire.‘That’s it, you’re doin’ great, darlin’.’ Eliza nods and focuses her anger into one ball then throws it at the target with a grunt. It flies at speed, then the target catches and melts quickly. Eliza snuffs the flames, she can feel Callie’s excitement, ‘Good, faster. Think, machine gun.’
Ash grunts,“Come here, Honey.” Eliza sighs and nods to Eddie as he continues scanning the surroundings for movement of any kind, then gets up and goes and sits next to Ash, “You good?” She sighs,“Stressed, worried, I feel like I’ve been letting the ball drop for too long. I know none of that is my fault, but I still feel bad for not being there for you and for the Guild.” He hums and Kai finishes up Nico and comes to join them once he’s packed the nappy bag again and moved it out of the way for Eddie and the others when they get back.“Okay, you know you don’t have to, right?” She sighs and nods,“Yeah. I know it, but feeling it is a very different thing.” He nods,“I know, and I’m not going to force you to feel better, I can’t.” She nods, “But we’re here for you, even when we’re idiots about letting you do the same for
A few minutes later and the kids are fed, back in the incubators and dozing, and Eliza sits up,“Right, toilet first, then I’ll come back and relax with you for a bit. I still feel tired, but I would like to cuddle with you both for a bit.” Kai nods and Ash gets up to help her to the bathroom. They spend most of the day in bed with Eliza, helping her feed the kids every hour or so, and then she decides to go downstairs to have dinner and check in on everything now she’s feeling more like herself again. Kai takes two of the babies, and Ash takes the other and Eliza’s elbow as they head down.Eddie is the only one visible on the main floor and Eliza takes Nico from Kai and sits at the dining table to talk to Eddie. He nods and runs through everything as it stands. She nods along, and rocks Nico when he starts fussing.“So, Merlin and Claire will be back soon. Jon and Jane saw them leaving the castle and are on their way back too







